Fluminense Maintain Brasileirão Lead: Daily

By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Staying nine points clear of the chasing pack, Fluminense won again in the 30th round of the 2012 Brasileirão with a controversial 2-1 win over Ponte Preta at home in the São Januário Stadium. Goals from Fred and Gum turned the result around for the Tricolor, who had initially fallen behind on an evening of high drama.

The visitors had gone ahead in the very first minute of the game with a beautiful strike from Luan.

The scoreline stayed that way until ten minutes from time, when Flu only managed victory with more than a little help from the referee, which has subsequently thrown into doubt the legitimacy of their substantial lead at the top.

Fred equalized when Flu were awarded a non-existent penalty for a supposed handball and Gum nodded in the winner after Marcos Júnior should have been pulled up for a foul.

Flu play third-placed Grêmio on Wednesday at the Engenhão Stadium and will have to perform much more convincingly if they are to be deemed worthy champions.

Botafogo secured a point away to Grêmio yesterday with a 1-1 draw that did little to help either side. Léo Gago opened the scoring for the Gaúchos before Bruno Mendes snatches a draw for Fogo late on.

Things went from bad to worse for Vasco da Gama. A 2-0 defeat at Santos meant the Cruz-Maltino fell out of the G-4 for the first time this season, ceding their place to São Paulo who overcame Figueirense.

Read more (in Portuguese).

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