csconstantine.com

SAO PAULO (AP)—It took only six matches for Ronaldinho’s return to Brazilian football to be considered a success.

Ronaldinho still isn’t playing the kind of football that twice made him the FIFA player of the year, but on Sunday he scored a decisive goal and lifted his first trophy since joining Flamengo after 10 years in European football.

“I’m euphoric,” Ronaldinho said after Flamengo’s 1-0 victory over Boavista in the Guanabara Cup final. “This is how I want to make history with Flamengo, scoring goals and winning titles.”

Flamengo's Ronaldinho hold…
AP - Feb 27, 6:24 pm EST Flamengo fans wave a flag with…
AP - Feb 27, 5:02 pm EST Flamengo's Ronaldinho, cel…
AP - Feb 27, 4:02 pm EST Flamengo's Ronaldinho, lef…
AP - Feb 27, 4:01 pm EST Flamengo's Ronaldinho, cel…
AP - Feb 27, 3:56 pm EST Flamengo's Ronaldinho, rig…
AP - Feb 27, 3:52 pm EST

The goal in the Guanabara Cup—the first stage of the Rio de Janeiro state championship—was Ronaldinho’s third since making his debut with the popular Brazilian club following a transfer from AC Milan in January, a move that brought him back to Brazil after thriving with some of Europe’s top clubs.

“I came to Flamengo at the right time,” the 30-year-old Ronaldinho said. “I’m very motivated to start playing well again and to be happy again.”

Ronaldinho was FIFA’s player of the year in 2004 and 2005 with Barcelona, but was struggling recently with AC Milan and decided to return home to revamp his career.

“My goal is to return to the national team as soon as possible,” he said. “I’ll keep working hard.”

Ronaldinho is yet to have a stellar performance since his debut with Flamengo on Feb. 2, but the club has won five of the six matches he played.

He scored his first goal with Flamengo with a penalty kick against Boavista in the group stage on Feb. 6, and his second came with a header against Murici in the Brazilian Cup on Feb. 16.

The 71st-minute goal on Sunday came at a crucial moment for Flamengo, which was dominating the match but was having difficulties getting past the opponent’s tight defensive scheme at the Engenhao stadium in Rio.

He curled a right-footed shot over the wall, striking it so perfectly that he began running to celebrate even before the ball hit the net. He ran near the sideline with several teammates lined up behind him, all dancing together.

The playmaker was praised and hailed in headlines across Brazil’s top newspapers on Monday.

“Ronaldinho decides with masterful goal,” the Lance sports daily said.

“Ronaldinho gives Flamengo the title,” read a front-page headline in the O Globo newspaper in Rio.

Ronaldinho signed with Flamengo in January after a controversial negotiation that involved two other Brazilian clubs, Palmeiras and Gremio, where he started his career. Ronaldinho’s agent and brother Roberto Assis negotiated with the three clubs for several days before announcing Ronaldinho’s decision to join Flamengo until the 2014 World Cup, which will be played in Brazil.

Agences de presses

Labels: already, Brazil, return, Ronaldinhos, success

- By Pedro FonsecaRIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Ronaldinho showed onSunday he had lost none of his free kick skills when he curledin the only goal as Flamengo beat Boavista in the final of thefirst phase of the Carioca (Rio de Janeiro) Championship.The 30-year-old playmaker, yet to shine for Flamengo sincehis January move from AC Milan, scored with a trademark freekick over the wall from 25 metres that gave the goalkeeper nochance.The 72nd-minute goal came as relief for Flamengo at Engenhaoas they struggled to convert their superiority into goalsagainst surprise finalists Boavista from a small seaside townwho upset Brazilian champions Fluminense in the semi-finals."I dreamt of being able to thank the fans for their supportafter they put their faith in me from the beginning," Ronaldinhotold reporters."Today's I've started paying them back by lifting the firsttrophy," the former FIFA World Player of the Year said afterFlamengo had done a lap of honour.The title doubled as the start of carnival celebrations forthe fun-loving Ronaldinho who has been frequenting practices atRio's samba schools and whose presence is a certainty at theSambodrome nights next month.Flamengo have earned the right to meet the winners of thesecond phase of the Carioca, one of a string of statechampionships that open the Brazilian season, for the title ofchampions.In the Paulista (Sao Paulo) Championship, big guns Palmeirasand Sao Paulo drew 1-1 in their derby played in a downpour atthe Morumbi.At the scheduled kickoff time, the pitch and stands wereflooded and the roads around the ground looked like rivers withfans who had driven to the match stranded.Although Palmeiras coach Luiz Felipe Scolari insisted thematch should be suspended, the referee decided to postponekickoff by an hour. He also had to halt the match for 15 minutesin the 25th because of a floodlights failure, seconds afterFernandinho had put Sao Paulo ahead.Palmeiras equalised five minutes from time throughsubstitute Adriano to move within a point of leadersCorinthians. (Writing by Rex Gowar; Editing by Ian Ransom; to query orcomment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com) Please click on the newslink:for South American soccer


Agences de presses

Labels: first, Flamengo, Hands, Reuters, Ronaldinhos, trademark, Trophy