By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Carioca clubs Fluminense and Flamengo both suffered defeats in the fifth round of the Campeonato Brasileiro yesterday afternoon. Following Botafogo’s 2-0 loss against Goiás last Wednesday, it meant no Rio outfit managed to record a point in the round, or indeed score a goal.
A man-of-the-match performance from goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe meant Fluminense lost 1-0 to Grêmio at the Arena Grêmio in Porto Alegre. Fluminense were on top for large parts of the game, but couldn’t find a way past the stopper who made four impressive saves to preserve the Gaúchos’ lead.
Rodriguinho scored the game’s only goal on 36 minutes, running onto Werley’s pass to smash an angled shot past Diego Cavalieri. Flu’s task was made harder in the second half when captain and Seleção striker Fred was sent off.
The forward had been provoked all afternoon at set-pieces and finally lost patience. He raised his hands to the throat of Alan Ruiz, and despite the melodramatic reaction, the referee was left with no choice but to dismiss the no. 9.
Meanwhile, over at the Maracanã, Ney Franco’s first game in charge of Flamengo ended in a 2-0 loss against São Paulo. Playmaker Paulo Henrique Ganso put in a sublime performance, scoring both goals in what turned out to be a stroll for the Paulistas.
For the Flamenguistas. their situation goes from bad to worse and the players felt the anger of the fans in the stands at the final whistle. The side have won just one of their opening five games in the Brasileirão and look already to face a tough task in mounting any sort of momentum to move forward this season.
Campeonato Brasileiro Round Five Results in Full:
Goiás 2-0 Botafogo
Cruzeiro 3-2 Coritiba
Flamengo 0-2 São Paulo
Corinthians 0-1 Figueirense
Atlético-PR 1-1 Chapecoense
Grêmio 1-0 Fluminense
Santos 1-2 Atlético-MG
Vitória 0-1 Palmeiras
Criciúma 0-0 Internacional
Sport Recife P – P Bahia
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