Ronaldinho miss sets up Fluminense semi
Reuters - Sunday 17 April 2011, 23:18
RIO DE JANEIRO - Ronaldinho blasted
a penalty over the bar with the last kick of the game in a
1-1 draw with Macae on Sunday to leave Flamengo with a tough
Carioca championship semi-final against arch-rivals Fluminense.
Had the former Barcelona ace, who has yet to impress since
returning home from AC Milan in January, converted the penalty
in the fourth minute of added time Flamengo would have avoided
the Brazilian champions.
"I kicked it badly and the ball rose. That's how it is. At
the right time, I'll get goals," Ronaldinho told reporters.
Carioca title holders Botafogo are the only one of Rio's
four big teams to have failed to reach the semi-finals in the
second stage of the state championship.
Modest Olaria have taken their place and will face Vasco da
Gama in the other semi-final.
Flamengo, who won the first stage of the championship, will
be crowned champions if they also win the second phase.
Otherwise they will have to face the winners in a grand final.
The state championships precede the Brazilian first division
championship that starts next month.
The Paulista (Sao Paulo) and Gaucho (Rio Grande do Sul)
championships have reached the quarter-final stage.
Former Brazil midfielder Falcao made his debut as coach of
South American champions Internacional with a 1-0 win over Santa
Cruz, young Brazil striker Leandro Damiao scoring the only goal,
on Saturday.