By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A brace from Alecsandro helped Flamengo to a comprehensive 3-0 win over Resende last night in the tenth round of the Campeonato Carioca. The victory meant the Rubro-Negro moved onto 25 points, three ahead of second-placed Fluminense, who play this afternoon.
Captain Léo Moura, playing in his 468th game for the club, entered the all-time appearance list in tenth place. However, as the game started, it was Resende who tried to take the initiative.
Flamengo slowly turned the screw with their superior quality and took the lead on 22 minutes after a horrific mistake by Resende goalkeeper, Mauro. Spilling a high cross, Alecsandro was left with the simple task of stooping to head the ball into an unguarded net.
Alecsandro doubled Fla’s lead on 34 minutes with a powerful long-range drive. From then on, Resende’s resistance wilted. They lost their impetus and the match, which for the first half-hour had looked a good contest, began to resemble an inevitable game of cat and mouse. Resende coach Ailton made three changes but to no effect; the damage had been done.
The third came midway through the second half, Everton completing the scoring to put the gloss on Flamengo’s performance. The Rubro-Negro are in Copa Libertadores action this Wednesday, against Ecuadorian club Emelec, at the Maracanã.
Later today, Fluminense and Botafogo clash in a Carioca clássico. Flu will be looking for three points to stay level with Flamengo, whilst Botafogo must win if they are to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals.
Read more (in Portuguese).
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