Fluminense fumbles chance to lead tournament

 　　RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- In day one of the 34th round of the Brazilian Championship, Fluminense missed the opportunity to become the leader of the tournament on Saturday.

　　Also on Saturday, Sao Paulo ended its nine-game winless streak¹ and Figueirense extended its current undefeated run.

　　At home against last-placed America-MG, Fluminense encountered all sorts of troubles in a game that it was virtually guaranteed to win.

　　Fluminense gave America-MG its first chance to score when Fred knocked Willian Rocha to the ground, resulting in a penalty kick in the 26th minute. However, Fluminense keeper Diego Cavalieri defended the shot, causing the fans to vibrate.

　　However, the fans were quickly silenced when Kempes connected on a one-timer, pounding the ball across the front of the Fluminense goal and into the net in the 38th minute.

　　America-MG increased its lead in the 78th minute when Amaral centered the ball to Alessandro who then controlled the ball off his chest and continued to slip the ball past an approaching Cavalieri.

　　Fluminense's only goal of the match came in the 81st minute. Receiving from Marquinhos, Rafael Moura was able to follow up his own shot on goal and fire the ball into the goal on his second try.

　　Discontent with the results, fans were relentless² in their booing of the team. The result leaves Fluminense in third place with 56 points. America-MG's win improves the team to 19th and second-to-last place with 31 points.

　　In another match on Saturday, host Sao Paulo broke its nine-game winless streak by beating Avai 2-0.

　　Both of Sao Paulo's goals were scored by Luis Fabiano. His first came in the 57th minute as he quickly spun³ around his defender⁴ to drive the ball past keeper Felipe and into the Avai goal.

　　Fabiano struck again in the 64th minute, capitalizing on a loose ball and slamming a header past a defenseless Felipe.

　　The win marked head coach Leao Emerson's first win with Sao Paulo. The result provisionally improves the team to seventh place with 53 points.

　　In the only other match of the night, host Figueirense came from behind to beat Atletico-MG 2-1.

　　The result improves Figueirense undefeated streak to 13 games and catapults the team into an unexpected fourth place with 56 points. Avai dropped into 20th and last place with 29 points.

1 streak   

n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动

参考例句：

• The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
• Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹？

2 relentless   

adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的

参考例句：

• The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
• Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。

3 spun   

v.纺，杜撰，急转身

参考例句：

• His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
• Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。

4 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。