Rio de Janeiro, Oct 18 (IANS) Former Brazil international midfielders Ze Roberto and Elano scored as 10-man Gremio earned a 2-2 draw against Fluminense in Brazil’s Serie A football championship.
Elano gave the visitors the lead early in the second half by firing a free-kick under the Fluminense wall at Rio’s Engenhao stadium Wednesday, reports Xinhua.
Fluminense’s Digao equalised four minutes later before Rafael Sobis struck from outside the area to put the hosts in front.
Victory looked beyond Gremio when Bolivia international forward Marcelo Moreno was shown a red card for striking Sobis with a raised elbow a minute after being introduced by coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo.
But former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder Roberto bundled in an unlikely equaliser five minutes from time after a poor Digao clearance.
After the match, a relieved Luxemburgo said it would be wrong to victimise Moreno but admitted the player faced an additional punishment from the club for his indiscipline.
“It is an attitude that isn’t ideal in a decisive match,” Luxemburgo said. “It has to be frowned upon because it affected the team. We will take a look at it and decide what internal action to take.”
Fluminense remains nine points ahead of Atletico Mineiro at the top of the standings with Gremio third, two points further back.
