UOL put it this way-O Flamengo segue sua luta pelo tetracampeonato inédito do Campeonato Estadual. Na tarde deste domingo, no Maracanã, o Rubro-Negro derrotou o Vasco por 2 a 1, e vai disputar a final da Taça Rio, segundo turno do Campeonato Estadual, contra o Botafogo, que superou o Fluminense na outra semifinal. Vagner Love fez os gols da equipe rubro-negra, enquanto Thiago Martinelli anotou para os cruzmaltinos.

Vagner Love hit for pay dirt in the 10^th minute. Mate Bruno Mezenga fired a great ball right through the Vasco “D”. Love raced to track down this puppy. Keeper Fernando Prass was forced to challenge Love. The Love man did a dipsy do around him and slipped the ball past three defenders. The shot squeezed just inside the right far post.

Globo Esporte wrote this about Love’s first tally-Mas na segunda chance o atacante não perdoou. Parecia até replay. Novamente de Bruno Mezenga para Vagner Love. A defesa do Vasco parou, Fernando Prass ficou na dúvida se saia ou não do gol. Quando resolveu ir na bola já era tarde. O atacante rubro-negro driblou o goleiro e chutou. A bola ainda desviou em Souza e entrou devagar no canto direito. Flamengo 1 a 0. Foi o 13º gol de Vagner Love, o artilheiro do Campeonato Carioca, que saiu comemorando fazendo um coração com as mãos e mostrando para os torcedores rubro-negros.

Cruzmaltinos found the answer in the 30^th minute. Thiago Martinelli nailed a header from just atop and to the right of the near post. This baby flat out beat Mengao’s keeper Bruno. Bruno never had a chance.

The match changer happened in the 71^st minute. Rubro-Negro’s Leonardo Moura took it straight to the rack. Vasco defender Marcio Careca tripped Moura. PK time. Love nailed the match winner to send Mengao to the finals.

Both sides complained about the ref. Flamengo lost Juan in the 33^rd minute and Vasco saw Thiago given the heave-hoe in the 90^th minute. The difference was the PK.

clássico foi tenso e com reclamações dos dois times em relação ao trabalho do árbitro João Batista de Arruda. O Flamengo não terá Juan na final do próximo domingo, às 16h, no Maracanã, pois foi expulso. Já o Vasco além de contestar o pênalti que originou o segundo gol rubro-negro, pediu um toque de Willians com a bola no braço dentro da área, aos 43 minutos do segundo tempo.

Flamengo was Carioca champ in seven of the last eleven title clashes. The champion will be decided in two legs. The first leg will played April 25^th and the second May 2^nd.

Primeiro, Flamengo e Botafogo se encontram no próximo domingo na final da Taça Rio, no Maracanã. Se o Alvinegro vencer será o campeão carioca já que conquistou também a Taça Guanabara. Se o Rubro-negro levar a melhor, os rivais vão para a decisão do título em dois jogos nos dias 25 de abril e 2 de maio. O Flamengo foi campeão de sete dos últimos 11 campeonatos disputados (1999 / 2000 / 2001 / 2004 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009).

We were fortunate to win this baby. When Juan was kicked out I thought oh baby here we go again. 

Love cane galloping to the rescue and Mengao is on to the finals.

Flamenguista nation is happy tonight.

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Did The Emperor’s absence hurt Flamengo? Many would say no way Jose but I beg to differ. Without Adriano in the line up Mengao had a hard time with second division side Resende before finally pulling away in the second half to win 4-0.

Yes, the torrid rain had something to do with the sloppy play but I think Mengao is resting on their laurels and not seriously getting ready to defend their title.

Globo Esporte http://globoesporte.globo.com/  wrote this-A chuva intermitente que castigou Volta Redonda durante todo o sábado prejudicou o estado do gramado, repleto de poças. O toque de bola era difícil, e pelo alto o Flamengo quase abriu o placar. Após escanteio cobrado por Vinícius Pacheco, aos dois minutos, Fernando cabeceou no canto direito e Cleber saltou para fazer excepcional defesa.

Mengao started really slow. Rubro-Negro had several early opportunities to score but Fernando just missed a close range header in the 2^nd minute.  Toro fired a wicked shot on goal but Resende keeper Cleber stopped em cold in the 24^th minute.

Vagner Love wasted a golden opportunity in the 31^st minute. Fabricio forced a ball into the goalmouth. It was pinball machine time. Love just missed putting away the loose ball. Resende keeper Cleber was able to punch the ball out of harms way.

Mengao finally got on the scoreboard in the 37^th minute. Vagner love threaded the needle to mate Bruno Mezenga. Mezenga flew past Resende defender Rodrigo Costa. Bruno Mezenga stopped and popped a shot right into the top shelf left. Cleber never had a prayer to stop this sucker.

The second half was a different story. Mengao pressed the attack. Flamengo scored three-second half goals to salt this puppy away.

Leonardo Moura ripped the twines in the 62^nd minute. His shot off a free kick from just outside the top box beat the keeper Cleber top shelf left.

Mengao scored again in the 72^nd minute. Flamengo worked the ball down the pitch with some precision passing. Vinicius Pacheco was recipient of this great teamwork. He was one on one with the keeper. Pacheco hit a perfect shot just inside the far right post to make 3-0 Flamengo.

Vagner Love capped the scoring in the 82^nd minute. Love had an easy walk goal to make 4-0 Mengao.

This goal was set up by a turnover in the Resende offensive end of the pitch.

Juan pulled the keeper and the defenders away from goalmouth.

Juan lay off a great pass to mate Love who was crashing the far right post.

All and in all it was a win but Mengao was very sloppy with the ball and this could back and hurt them big time.

 Mas a chance inicial parecia chuva de verão. O Resende rondou a área adversária, insistindo no jogo aéreo para Tuta. Disperso, o time rubro-negro errou muitos passes no meio de campo, o que travou o andamento das jogadas.

Vagner Love is a big hit with Mengao. Love is the clubs top scorer with ten goals.Com mais um gol, Vagner Love chegou ao seu décimo na competição e se isolou ainda mais na artilharia do Campeonato Estadual. Dodô, do Vasco, com oito, vem logo atrás.

Love added that this victory was for Adriano.

“O Adriano faz falta ao time e oferecemos esta vitória para ele. Mas jogamos com personalidade e estamos com uma moral maior”, disse Vagner Love.

In the lone EPL action on Sunday Everton dismantled Hull City 5-1. Landon Donovan recorded his first EPL goal in the 82^nd minute.

Mikel Arteta hit the daily double for Toffees.  

FA Cup Quarterfinal action saw Chelsea take care of Stoke City 2-0. Aston Villa doubled up on Reading 4-2. Chelsea and Aston Villa are into the FA semifinals.

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