By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The 20th round of the 2014 Campeonato Brasileiro was one to forget for Rio de Janeiro clubs, with none of the three in action managing to win. Fluminense picked up a point, whilst there were defeats for Botafogo and Flamengo.
A late goal from Cícero earned Fluminense a 1-1 draw away to in-form Figueirense. In a hard fought game, which saw both teams reduced to ten men, Everaldo gave the home side the lead after a defensive mix-up between Elívelton and goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri.
Flu were without Fred, Rafael Sóbis and Walter, and as a result their midfield play was often stunted when reaching the final third. They did however find an equalizer on 82 minutes when cícero stooped to head home after a fortuitous deflection.
There were goals galore at the Estádio Mané Garrincha in Brasília as Botafogo lost 4-2 to São Paulo. The win for the Paulistas cut Cruzeiro’s lead at the top of just four points.
Alan Kardec gave São Paulo an early lead before strikes from Zeballos and André Bahia in quick succession turned the game on its head. In an action packed first half, a Souza double in the space of four minutes meant São Paulo went in 3-2 up at half-time. Alexandre Pato’s eighth goal of the Brasileirão campaign sealed the points for the Morumbí club.
Also Flamengo’s recent good form has now been forgotten after a 1-0 defeat to Goiás. It is the Rubro-Negro’s second successive league defeat as the Gavéa club slip back towards the relegation zone.
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