Flamengo beats Santos 3-1 in Brazilian league opener

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - Marcinho scored a goal and set up another in the first half and Flamengo defeated Santos 3-1 in a Brazilian league match played in an empty stadium as a penalty because of fan violence.

Recently promoted Portuguesa wasted a three-goal, second-half lead and settled for a 5-5 draw with Figueirense 5-5 in a thriller in Sao Paulo, while on Saturday - the competition's first day - defending champion Sao Paulo fell 1-0 to Gremio at home.

Fans did not have a chance to see Flamengo's victory at Maracana stadium because of a suspension handed by Brazil's top sports tribunal, which found the Rio de Janeiro club responsible for one of its supporters throwing a beer can onto the field in a match last year.

Marcinho opened the scoring with a one-timer from close range in the 29th minute, and Ibson added to the lead a minute later after Marcinho's back-heel pass inside the area.

Santos, which tallied with a penalty kick converted by striker Moraes in the 90th, played without most of its regular starters, including Colombian midfielder Mauricio Molina, who were rested for the team's match against America on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores.

America eliminated Flamengo from the Latin American competition last week with a stunning 3-0 victory at Maracana, erasing a 4-2 first-leg loss.

Portuguesa, the 1996 Brazilian league runner-up, opened up a 5-2 lead at Caninde stadium in the 59th, but Figueirense rallied with goals in the 69th, 88th and 92nd. Portuguesa played the final 20 minutes with 10 men after defender Patricio was ejected for a hard foul.

Also Sunday, Botafogo - runner-up to Flamengo in the Rio de Janeiro state championship - got past Sport 2-0 at Engenhao stadium, while Ipatinga, also coming from the second division, fell 1-0 to Atletico Paranaense at home.

In Porto Alegre, defender Sidnei scored a first-half goal and Internacional defeated Vasco 1-0 without several regular starters who were rested for the team's Brazilian Cup match against Sport on Wednesday. Vasco, who plays Corinthians of Alagoas on the same day, rested veteran striker Edmundo.

In Curitiba, Sao Paulo state champion Palmeiras was upset 2-0 by recently promoted Coritiba. Palmeiras hasn't beaten Coritiba at Couto Pereira stadium in six matches. The team's last victory there was 19 years ago.

On Saturday, defender Pereira scored a goal early in the second half and Gremio beat Sao Paulo 1-0 at Morumbi stadium, snapping the defending champion's 19-match unbeaten streak at the stadium - which included 14 matches this year.

Seeking a record sixth national title, Sao Paulo had won eight in a row at the stadium coming into its Brazilian league opener.

Manager Muricy Ramalho rested some regular starters - including striker Adriano - ahead of the team's match against Fluminense in the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday.

Fluminense drew Atletico Mineiro 0-0 on Sunday at Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte.

In other results Saturday, Bolivian striker Marcelo Moreno scored a goal and Cruzeiro defeated Vitoria 2-0 in Salvador, while Nautico beat visiting Goias 2-1 in Recife.

Corinthians - a four-time Brazilian champion - debuted in the second division with a 3-2 victory against CRB on Saturday behind two goals by Argentine striker German Herrera.