By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – There were mixed fortunes for three Rio clubs last night as the tenth round of the 2012 Brasileirão kicked off. In Botafogo’s final game before Clarence Seedorf is eligible to play, the Alvinegro secured a goalless draw away to Santos.
There was further misery for Joel Santana and Flamengo as the Rubro-Negro were outplayed and comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Corinthians at the Engenhão Stadium.
A brace from Douglas and a third from Danilo did the damage and drew ire from the Flamenguistas inside the stadium who called for Santana’s head.
But there was good news for Vasco, who managed a vital 1-0 away to São Paulo at the Morumbí. Superior for the entirety, the Carioca club dominated the game and deservedly took the points with Fagner’s strike early in the second half.
Led by ageless veteran Juninho Pernambucano, who ran with the legs of a man ten years his junior, the Cruz-Maltino would have won by a greater margin had it not been for the heroics of Paulista goalkeeper Denis. Vasco remain unbeaten away from home in the league and have suffered only one reverse all season, against Cruzeiro.
They remain a point behind Atlético-MG, who beat Internacional 3-1. Tonight, Fluminense host lowly Bahia at the Engenhão, hoping to stay on the coat-tails of early pace setters Atlético and Vasco.
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