Flamengo defeated Madureira 2-0. The win was not pretty. Fact, Mengao played like crap.

Rubro-Negro should have killed this lower division side but no Flamengo let them hang around to almost the bitter end before a strike by Vagner Love in the 88^th minute put the match out of reach.

Love spilt the “D” on a well placed through ball by Ramon. Love fired the shot over the keeper Jefferson’s head. Top shelf right sealed the deal.

Love should have scored in the 4^th minute but his shot was tipped away by Madureira keeper Jefferson.

Mengao finally scored in the 14^th minute. A well-placed free kick into the goalmouth was batted around until Flamengo’s Fernando corralled the ball and knocked home the winner for a 1-0 Mengao lead.

Vagner Love had another chance in the 28^th minute but his shot flat out missed the mark

Flamenguistas were getting very restless with the stinko play. A chorus of boos was heard throughout Maracanã.

We were getting restless.

Globo Esporte  http://globoesporte.globo.com/  had these kind words to say-O Flamengo venceu. Mas não escapou das vaias dos 2.190 rubro-negros que foram ao Maracanã e da convicção de que o time, assim como afirmara Andrade na véspera, não consegue se mobilizar para as partidas contra os clubes pequenos no Campeonato Carioca. Mesmo assim, o triunfo por 2 a 0 sobre o Madureira mantém a equipe com 100% de aproveitamento na Taça Rio.

Madureira almost hit the equalizer early in the second half but Bruno swatted away the for sure goal to save Mengao’s hide.

Globo Esporte wrote this – No início do segundo tempo, o Madureira esteve perto do empate aos nove minutos. Bruno entrou na área e bateu à esquerda do gol. Juan respondeu com um cruzamento que quase surpreendeu Jefferson. O goleiro colocou a escanteio.

Thank God for Bruno.

 Love had a great opportunity in the 62^nd minute but Love was a little late getting to the great pass by Vinicius Pacheco in the box.

Love had another gimmie goal in the 78^th minute. Love was one on one with the keeper. He shanked it.

Globo Esporte had this to say- Aos 17 minutos, Vinícius Pacheco cruzou da ponta esquerda e por pouco Vagner Love não alcançou. Sob vaias a todo o time, o Artilheiro do Amor recebeu passe de Vinícius Pacheco, aos 33, entrou cara a cara com Jefferson, mas chutou em cima do goleiro. Vinícius pedia a devolução do passe, mas estava impedido.

The match can be summed up this way. Mengao had a too close to call 1-0 win over Madureira until Vagner Loves’s goal in the dying moments of the match made it 2-0. UOL www.uol.com.br  put it this way- No fim, quando tudo levava para uma vitória magra por 1 a 0, Vagner Love, aos 43 minutos e num golaço, marcou o segundo, brecou qualquer reação do Madureira e deu números finais ao confronto.

All in all, it wasn’t pretty but a win is a win. Guys we are going to have to play better if we want to win the whole enchilada again.

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