By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Flamengo beat Botafogo 2-0 yesterday evening in the 2014 Campeonato Carioca, securing the Taça Guanabara, the tournament’s group stage, in the process. The result at the Maracanã eliminated Botafogo from the state championship, leaving them free to focus on the Copa Libertadores.
Flamengo were the better side from the kick-off and thoroughly deserved the three points. The Rubro-Negro raced into the lead after only ten minutes through Gabriel.
The forward received the ball from Márcio Araújo and drove a shot beneath Helton Leite in the Fogo goal. Botafogo never truly looked like getting back on a level footing, their players looking apathetic in surrender.
Hernane twice wasted good chances to stretch the lead as Flamengo ran amok. Botafogo continually failed to react, Henrique cutting a lonely figure in the Alvinegro attack, with Flamengo goalkeeper Felipe not called into action once during the opening 45 minutes.
Midway through the second half Botafogo’s task was made even trickier when Airton was dismissed. Hernane missed yet another opportunity as Fla managed to run the game without breaking sweat.
Then at the death the Flamengo number nine laid on a goal for Léo. Hernane’s touch freed his teammate to send a rasping effort beyond Leite and make sure of the points.
Earlier in the day, Fluminense drew 2-2 with Duque de Caxias at the Estádio Raulino de Oliveira. Having rested Fred and Conca, the Tricolor struggled to overcome their opponents despite them being reduced to ten men early in the second half.
Alex Terra headed Duque into the lead on eight minutes before Wágner’s fine volley leveled the scores. But a wonderfully curling effort from Juninho restored the minnows’ advantage just two minutes later.
Duque goalkeeper Andrade was sent off in the second half for time wasting and persistent complainig to the referee. And his side was made to pay when Walter’s free header snatched a point for Flu in the dying stages.
Campeonato Carioca Round Thirteen Results in Full:
Resende 3-2 Macaé
Bangu 1-1 Madureira
Vasco 1-1 Bonsucesso
Boavista 1-0 Volta Redonda
Duque de Caxias 2-2 Fluminense
Friburguense 1-1 Cabofriense
Nova Iguaçu 3-3 Audax
Botafogo 0-2 Flamengo
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