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Brasileirão Week 26 Match Report: Flamengo 2 - 0 São Caetano [Sun Sep 18th, 2005]
Cesar Ramirez made an impeccable start to his striking career at the Gávea club, leading the limping Rubro-negro to an important win at the Luso-Brasileiro stadium.
This means that the Mengão break free of the suffocating pressure of relegation for the first time in many weeks – at least until Sunday’s results come in. The Azulão, in free-fall, suffer their sixth consecutive defeat.
Urged on by the fresh Paraguayan blood in front, Flamengo (18th – 30) went in for the kill from the moment the whistle dropped from Antônio Hora Filho’s lips. Leonardo Moura controlled a Fellype Gabriel cross, his shot forcing SÃÂlvio LuÃÂs into an acrobatic save. In the third minute returning veteran Junior Baiano almost saw his header ripple the Azulão net.
Cesar Ramirez was clearly a driven man, but the São Caetano defenders were all over him like limpets. His first shot was a seventeenth minute effort, blocked by Gustavo.
São Caetano, playing an over-cautious counter-attacking game from the very start, saw their first chance uncharacteristically blown by veteran ‘capeta’ EdÃÂlson. In the 30th minute Paulo Miranda shaved paint of Diego’s crossbar, but the ball ricocheted over.
Cesar Ramirez led Flamengo back to the attack in the 33rd minute, slicing through the Azulão defence and knocking on for Leonardo Moura, who hoofed his shot somewhere between the corner flag and the post. Two minutes later Fellype Gabriel misread the Paraguayan's well-intentioned pass and the Urubu waved goodbye to yet another chance to open proceedings.
Coming back after the break, the Mengão insistence paid off in the very first minute of renewed play. Ramirez showed undeniable class and breakneck speed as he dribbled Gustavo and left SÃÂlvio LuÃÂs groping as the ball went in.
Souza could have made it two as the on-form Paraguayan left him facing an open goal, but his blunderbuss finishing wasted the chance. EdÃÂlson hit back for the visitors, but Diego showed himself to be a worthy successor to Inter Milan’s Julio Cesar.
Junior Baiano was sent off (again) for a cerebrally-challenged handball, but fortunately for the Cariocas, Triguinho (ex-Barcelona B) missed a howler of a chance in the twenty-eighth minute of the second half.
Ramirez, yet again, was providential as he was felled in the São Caetano box. Dead-ball specialist Renato (89 min) sealed a refreshing win for Flamengo. We shall hear more of this Cesar Ramirez, no doubt.
Venue: Luso-Brasileiro Stadium, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Referee: Antônio Hora Filho (SE)
Linesmen: Antônio da Cruz dos Santos (SE) and Ivaney Alves de Lima (SE)
Yellow Cards: Junior Baiano, Leonardo Moura, Renato (Flamengo); Zé LuÃÂs, Dimba (São Caetano)
Red Card: Junior Baiano (Flamengo)
FLAMENGO: Diego, Leonardo Moura (Léo Mattos), Junior Baiano, Renato Silva and André; Recife, Jônatas, Renato and Souza (Diego Souza); Fellype Gabriel (Rodrigo) and Cesar Ramirez
Coach: Andrade
SÃO CAETANO: SÃÂlvio LuÃÂs; Ricardo Lopes (Raulen), Gustavo, Thiago and Triguinho; Zé LuÃÂs, Paulo Miranda (Jean), Pingo and Canindé (Fábio Pinto); EdÃÂlson and Dimba
Coach: Jair Picerni
Aaron Marcus
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