Fluminense form still poor despite Fred return
Reuters - Monday 15 August 2011, 01:21
RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian champions
Fluminense lost their eighth match in 15 on Sunday as their poor
form continued to haunt them despite a scoring return by captain
Fred.
Fluminense, who went ahead with a 25-minute header by Brazil
striker Fred, lost 2-1 away in Porto Alegre after Gremio replied
with two goals from playmaker Marquinhos before half-time.
The champions, who have a game in hand, are ninth with 21
points from 15 matches, 13 behind leaders Corinthians and
Flamengo, who both drew their 16th games.
Fred had missed their two previous matches having asked to
be dropped for "psychological" reasons after being chased by
angry fans who caught him drinking late at night in a Rio bar on
the eve of a match 10 days ago.
Marquinhos equalised on the half hour when he beat the
offside trap to pick up a pass from Lucio and score with a shot
that took a deflection on its way into the net.
His second 15 minutes later was a free-kick into the top
corner past former Liverpool keeper Diego Cavalieri.
Gremio's first win in five matches lifted the southern side
out of the relegation zone to 14th with 18 points.
"We're not on a good run and we're not getting results away
from home. It's time we played less nicely to get the results,"
Fred told reporters, adding that the incident with fans was
forgotten.
Corinthians, ahead of Flamengo on goal difference, were held
2-2 at home by Ceara who scored an 85th-minute equaliser through
midfielder Rudnei at a corner.
Flamengo, the only unbeaten team, squandered a 2-0 lead
having scored two goals through striker Deivid, both laid on by
Ronaldinho, in the opening 50 minutes, and drew 2-2 at
Figueirense.
Vasco da Gama and Botafogo both won at the weekend, leaving
the top five teams separated by just six points.