By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The 31st round of the 2013 Campeonato Brasileiro was not a happy one for Carioca clubs playing yesterday, with none of the three teams managing to come away victorious. Flamengo picked up a solitary point whilst there were shattering defeats for Vasco and Fluminense.
Flamengo drew 0-0 with Portuguesa at the Castelão Arena in Fortaleza. The game was sorely lacking in technical quality and neither side deserved to win.
Few chances were created on either side but the two clubs will be content they managed to distance themselves further from the relegation zone. Both managers were unhappy their sides were not awarded penalties in what was otherwise a drab affair.
A last minute goal left Vasco deflated as they lost to relegation rivals Ponte Preta 2-1. Vasco had taken the lead through an own goal after quarter of an hour but Ponte turned the game on its head to leave both clubs three points adrift of safety with seven rounds to play.
The defeat meant Vasco dropped below Ponte having won fewer games. Time is running out for coach Doríval Junior as he struggles to inject life into his depleted squad.
There was disaster for Fluminense at the Maracanã as the Tricolor threw away a 2-1 lead to lose 3-2 to Vitória. The visitors had been reduced to ten men early in the game but Flu still lacked the pedigree to take the game away from their disadvantaged visitors.
Despite going 2-1 up on 57 minutes through Rafael Sóbis, they were behind just seven minutes later after conceding two quickfire goals. Towards the end Flu fans turned on coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, with it seeming increasingly unlikely his contract will be renewed in December at the end of the season.
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