By Georgia Grimond, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Despite mixed support in the stands, Flamengo sailed to a 4-1 victory over Goiás on Sunday night (November 8th) at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio. Goiás, with 34 points, now enter the Z-4 and could face relegation while Flamengo remain in the middle of the Brasileirão Série A table, in eleventh position with 47 points.
Flamengo set the pace of the game and played with ease. Two goals each from Alan Patrick Meia and Kayke ensured their victory and Goiás were only able to come back with a single goal from Erik at the end of the first half.
It was a return to grace and to the pitch for Alan Patrick who was one of five players recently reprimanded for taking part in a boozy party, photos of which were posted on social media. The crowd was divided with many booing the midfielder throughout the match. Others however came out in support of him.
The win breaks Flamengo’s run of four consecutive defeats but, with only three rounds left of the competition, the team has little chance of reaching the G-4, the classification zone for the Libertadores Cup. On Thursday, November 19th, they will take on Santos at 10PM in Vila Belmiro in São Paulo state.
Fellow Carioca team Fluminense played at the Maracanã on Saturday, November 7th. They lost 3-2 to Chapecoense FC from Santa Caterina. In the previous four matches between the two teams, Chapecoense has won all of them.
Fluminense’s Jean opened the scoring from the penalty spot, but Túlio de Melo and Thiego soon scored for Chapecoense leaving the score 2-1 at the end of the first half. Early in the second, Gustavo Scarpa equalized for Flu, but Camilo finalized Chapecoense’s victory eighteen minutes in.
The result pushes Fluminense one place down the table, putting them in thirteenth position with 43 points. Chapecoense also have 43 points but lie in fourteenth. Next Fluminense will play Grêmio on Thursday, November 19th, at 7:30 PM, in the 35th round of the competition.