Ronaldinho free-kick hands Flamengo trophy
Reuters - Monday 28 February 2011, 00:10
RIO DE JANEIRO - Ronaldinho showed on
Sunday he had lost none of his free-kick skills when he curled
in the only goal as Flamengo beat Boavista in the final of the
first phase of the Carioca (Rio de Janeiro) Championship.
The 30-year-old playmaker, yet to shine for Flamengo since
his January move from AC Milan, scored with a trademark free-kick over the wall from 25 metres that gave the goalkeeper no
chance.
The 72nd-minute goal came as relief for Flamengo at Engenhao
as they struggled to convert their superiority into goals
against surprise finalists Boavista from a small seaside town
who upset Brazilian champions Fluminense in the semi-finals.
"I dreamt of being able to thank the fans for their support
after they put their faith in me from the beginning," Ronaldinho
told reporters.
"Today's I've started paying them back by lifting the first
trophy," the former FIFA World Player of the Year said after
Flamengo had done a lap of honour.
The title doubled as the start of carnival celebrations for
the fun-loving Ronaldinho who has been frequenting practices at
Rio's samba schools and whose presence is a certainty at the
Sambodrome nights next month.
Flamengo have earned the right to meet the winners of the
second phase of the Carioca, one of a string of state
championships that open the Brazilian season, for the title of
champions.
In the Paulista (Sao Paulo) Championship, big guns Palmeiras
and Sao Paulo drew 1-1 in their derby played in a downpour at
the Morumbi.
At the scheduled kick-off time, the pitch and stands were
flooded and the roads around the ground looked like rivers with
fans who had driven to the match stranded.
Although Palmeiras coach Luiz Felipe Scolari insisted the
match should be suspended, the referee decided to postpone
kickoff by an hour. He also had to halt the match for 15 minutes
in the 25th because of a floodlights failure, seconds after
Fernandinho had put Sao Paulo ahead.
Palmeiras equalised five minutes from time through
substitute Adriano to move within a point of leaders
Corinthians.