Flamengo beat Gremio 1-0 as Serie A title looms closer
Soccer Football - Brasileiro Championship - Gremio v Flamengo - Arena do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - November 17, 2019 Flamengo's Diego and team mates applaud fans after the match REUTERS/Diego Vara
PORTO ALEGRE (Reuters) - Gabriel Barbosa scored the winner from a first-half penalty and then was sent off 17 minutes from time as Flamengo beat Gremio 1-0 away from home on Sunday to take a huge step towards the Brazilian league title.
With closest challengers Palmeiras only drawing 1-1 with Bahia, Flamengo only need three points from their final four games to guarantee the Serie A trophy.
Sunday's win came thanks to Barbosa, who got his 22nd goal of the league season from a controversial penalty that was awarded after the ball hit Leo Moura's trailing arm as he slid in for a challenge.
Soccer Football - Brasileiro Championship - Gremio v Flamengo - Arena do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - November 17, 2019 Gremio's Everton argues with referee Rapahel Claus REUTERS/Diego Vara
In the second half, the on-loan Inter Milan striker was shown a yellow card for a dissent and then a second in quick succession for sarcastically clapping the referee.
The win, which takes Flamengo's unbeaten streak to 25 games, means Flamengo have 81 points from 34 games, while Palmeiras have 68 from 33.
Flamengo's next match is the final of the Copa Libertadores next Saturday against Argentina's River Plate in Peru.
Soccer Football - Brasileiro Championship - Gremio v Flamengo - Arena do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - November 17, 2019 Flamengo's Gabriel celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates REUTERS/Diego Vara
(Reporting by Andrew Downie; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Soccer Football - Brasileiro Championship - Gremio v Flamengo - Arena do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - November 17, 2019 Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus REUTERS/Diego VaraSoccer Football - Brasileiro Championship - Gremio v Flamengo - Arena do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - November 17, 2019 Gremio's Everton in action with Flamengo's Rodinei REUTERS/Diego VaraSoccer Football - Brasileiro Championship - Gremio v Flamengo - Arena do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - November 17, 2019 Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus and players celebrate after the match REUTERS/Diego Vara
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