Big guys hit first in Campeonato Carioca

Vasco da Gama, Flamengo and Botafogo get ahead, as Fluminense is caught by surprise by Prado Júnior

The first Campeonato Carioca de Beach Soccer kicked-off this week at the Barra de São João, with eight teams involved. Brazilian giants Flamengo, runners-up of the last Mundialito de Clubes, 2011 world champions Vasco da Gama, Botafogo and Fluminense emerge as the favourites to the final glory, but Búzios e Cabofriense, Prado Júnior and Casimiro de Abreu are ready to cause one or two upsets…something they have already managed to do.

A spectacular goal storm kicked off the Carioca Championship, with Vasco da Gama forced to work their way out of a game that Buzios were feeling strong in. An amazingly inspired Lucão, whose talented beachsoccer we could see in the last BSWW Tour Copa San Luis, pushed the vascaínos onwards with five goals, always accompanied by the contribution by other Verdeamarela regulars such as Bokinha, Mauricinho, Jorgigho, Bueno or Cesinha.

In the following game, Prado Junior caught Fluminense by surprise, with a narrow 2-3 win that have the Tricolor Carioca in need of points if they want to secure a semifinals berth.

The rest of the big guys did not stumble, as Botafogo and Flamengo got to the upper part of their groups following two uncontestable wins against Casimiro Abreu (7-0) and Cabofriense (6-2), respectively.

Campeonato Estadual do Rio de Janeiro de Beach Soccer 2014 goes on during the whole weekend, with the final to be held next Sunday (23rd of February), at 15:00.

CAMPEONATO ESTADUAL DO RIO DE JANEIRO DE BEACH SOCCER 2014

GROUP A – Vasco da Gama, Flamengo, Búzios and Cabofriense
GROUP B – Fluminense, Botafogo, Prado Júnior and Casimiro de Abreu

Wednesday, 19th February
17:00 – Vasco da Gama 14-5 Búzios
18:15 – Fluminense 2-3 Prado Júnior
19:30 – Botafogo 7-0 Casimiro de Abreu
20:45 – Flamengo 6-2 Cabofriense

Thursday, 20th February
17h – Fluminense vs Casimiro de Abreu
18:15 – Flamengo vs Búzios
19:30  – Botafogo vs Prado Júnior
20:45 – Vasco da Gama vs Cabofriense

Friday, 21st February
17h – Búzios vs Cabofriense
18:15 – Botafogo vs Fluminense
19:30  – Casimiro de Abreu vs Prado Júnior
20:45 – Flamengo vs Vasco da Gama

Saturday, 22nd February
19:30 – 1st Group A vs 2nd Group B (semi-final 1)
20:45 – 1st Group B vs 2nd Group B (semi-final 2)

Sunday, 23rd February
15:00 – Final