Flamengo Wins, Fluminense and Botafogo Both Lose, and Vasco Again Stalls

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – This weekend’s round six of the Brasileirão saw a collective six goals scored by the “big four” teams from Rio and a total of seven goals conceded. Flamengo was the sole Carioca victor with a 3-2 win over Athletico-PR. Vasco da Gama failed to win their first game with a frustrating 1-1 draw against Fortaleza. Botafogo lost 1-0 against Palmeiras, with Fluminense losing 3-2 to Bahia.

In a controversial start to the weekend’s football (soccer), league leaders Palmeiras were only able to dispatch Botafogo after an incredibly controversial decision from the referee with the assistance of VAR (Video Assistant Referee).

The victors have now played twenty-nine undefeated games in the Brasileirão, but they had to rely on a foul in the 53rd minute from Botafogo player Gabriel on Deyverson that the referee only caught after reviewing the action on the screen. After much deliberation, Gustavo Gomez struck the penalty into the bottom left corner, and that was enough to leave the game 1-0 to Palmeiras.

In what was perhaps the most exciting game of the weekend, Flamengo managed to come from behind in their match against Athletico-PR, scoring two goals after 90 minutes and turning the score from 2-1 for the visitors to a 3-2 Flamengo victory.

While Flamengo didn’t exactly win in style, they provided plenty of excitement for the neutral, with Gabigol, Bruno Henrique, and Rodrigo Caio all scoring for the rubro-negro. Nevertheless, the coach, Abel Braga, was still booed by the fans at the end of the game despite being embraced by his players.

Vasco had yet another frustrating weekend as they came within minutes of securing their first victory in the Brasileirão when super-sub Romarinho scored for Fortaleza in the 89th minute.

Yago Pikachu had put the bottom-placed team 1-0 ahead from a penalty in the 71st minute, but it was not enough to secure the team’s first win as yet again Vasco let victory slip from their grasp in a result that, while crushing, was probably fair, with the game ending 1-1.

Fluminense perhaps could have given Flamengo a run for their money with another entertaining clash on Sunday between the Carioca team and Bahia, which saw more controversial VAR decisions and some goalkeeping errors to boot.

Artur put the home team ahead after sixteen minutes, but three minutes later Pedro had equalized for Fluminense from the penalty spot.

Gilberto then scored a brace for Bahia, with one goal in the 30th minute and a second goal coming from a controversial penalty in the 69th minute that led to the Fluminense keeper being sent off.

Agenor, the keeper, saved the first penalty which he had caused, but then was sent off for moving before the ball was struck. João Pedro was able to pull a goal back for the visitors in the 80th minute, but it was not enough, leaving the game 3-2 to Bahia.