Rio de Janeiro, Jul 28 (EFE).- Flamengo took the lead in the Brazilian Championship on Sunday after beating last-placed Atlético Goianiense 2-0 and dethroning Botafogo in the match played for the twentieth round of the tournament at the Maracaná stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Pedro opened the scoring in the 18th minute, confirming himself as Flamengo’s and the tournament’s top scorer, with 10 goals this season.
In the 60th minute, Uruguayan Giorgian De Arrascaeta increased the lead for the Rio team.
The Arrasca-Pedro duo shone on Sunday at the Maracaná, where Chilean Erik Pulgar also stood out, a key piece for the Uruguayan striker’s goal.
The Cariocas’ dominance was expected against a Goianiense riddled with defeats and who have only won two of the 20 matches in the current season.
Despite Flamengo’s goals, the Goiás team had a good armour during the match and at times led counterattacks that alerted the team led by former Brazilian coach Tite.
With the result, Flamengo took first place in the standings, where they have 40 points, the same as Botafogo, who fell to second place on goal difference after being humiliated by Cruzeiro on Saturday with a resounding 0-3.
In Bragança Paulista, Fluminense won 0-1 in their visit to Bragantino, with a goal from Kaúa Elias, in a match in which Ganso and the Colombians John Arias and Kevin Serna also stood out.
The Rio de Janeiro team, current champions of the Copa Libertadores, achieved their third consecutive league victory on Sunday and, although they remain in the relegation zone, they see their exit from the danger zone imminent thanks to the strategy of the newly arrived coach Mano Menezes.
On Saturday, Palmeiras fell to third place after missing the opportunity to get closer to the top after being defeated 0-2 by Vitória.
Fortaleza beat São Paulo 1-0, a result that kept both teams in fourth and sixth place, while Bahia remained in seventh place after tying 1-1 with Internacional, which fell to fourteenth place. EFE
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