RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Two second-half goals helped Flamengo to a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Cruzeiro at the Maracana stadium on Saturday, getting the Rio club’s Brazilian league campaign off to a winning start.
The visitors took the lead after 39 minutes when Pedro Rocha slotted home after running on to a through ball from former Brazil striker Fred.
However, their lead lasted barely a minute as Bruno Henrique took advantage of poor goalkeeping by Fabio, who failed to meet a cross from the left.
The same man converted a cut back from 12 meters out to put the home side ahead after 64 minutes before Gabriel Barbosa made it 3-1 a minute from the final whistle.
The defeat was Cruzeiro’s first of the year, bringing an end to their 22-game unbeaten run.
Defender Murilo was sent off six minutes from time to cap an unhappy day for the Belo Horizonte side.
(Reporting by Andrew Downie; Editing by Peter Rutherford)