Brazil Serie A Wrap: Fluminense beaten again

Fluminense continued their poor start to the Brazil Serie A season with a 3-2 loss at home against Flamengo.

Defending their 2012 title, Fluminense went ahead in the 17th minute through Rafael Sobis before Flamengo restored parity nine minutes later with Elias’ strike.

Hernane grabbed the lead for Flamengo on 32 minutes before scoring his second goal in the 80th minute, converting former Arsenal full-back Andre Santos’ pass.

A consolation goal was scored for Fluminense in the 93rd minute through Sobis but they could not snatch an unlikely draw as they crashed to their seventh loss of the season.

Cruzeiro remain on top of the table despite a 0-0 home draw against Santos.

Santos goalkeeper Aranha was the hero, with Cruzeiro dominating shots on target 10 to three.

Botafogo missed the opportunity to leapfrog Cruzeiro after an own goal saw them draw 1-1 against Goias.

Rafael Marques put Botafogo into the lead on 52 minutes before defender Andre Bahia put through his own net in the 68th minute to ensure a share of the spoils.

Goias midfielder Hugo received two yellow cards in the same minute to be dismissed on 87 minutes but Botafogo could not take advantage in the closing stages.

Otavinho’s 88th-minute equaliser earned Internacional a 2-2 draw and denied Atletico PR the chance to record five straight wins.

Joao Paulo scored within the first minute for Atletico but Juan levelled the contest in the 14th minute.

Atletico thought they had secured the points in the 75th after Ederson’s strike but Otavinho popped up to ensure the game finished level.

In other games, Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni missed a penalty in their 2-1 loss to Portuguesa, Ponte Preta overcame Criciuma 3-1 and three second-half goals powered Gremio to a 3-0 away result against Bahia.

Former Milan forward Alexandre Pato scored from the spot in Corinthians’ 2-0 win over Vitoria, a goal in the first five minutes secured a 1-0 result for Vasco da Gama against Coritiba and Nautico fought out a goalless draw with Atletico Mineiro.