Ronaldinho goal gives Flamengo victory

Ronaldinho converted a second-half free kick for Flamengo to beat Boavista 1-0 on Sunday to win the Guanabara Cup, the first stage of the Rio de Janeiro state championship.

Ronaldinho lifted his first trophy with Brazil's most popular club after curling in a right-footed shot over the wall in the 71st minute at Engenhao stadium. The goal gave Flamengo its 19th Guanabara Cup title and a chance to play for the state title against the winner of the Rio Cup, the tournament's second stage.

It was only Ronaldinho's sixth match with Flamengo, which dominated but had difficulties creating scoring opportunities against lowly Boavista, a team that reached the final after stunning Brazilian champion Fluminense in last week's semifinals.

Ronaldinho, a two-time world player of the year, joined Brazil's most popular club in the beginning of the year, transferring from AC Milan after 10 years in European football.

He has a chance to help Flamengo win its 26th overall state trophy. It will clinch the title automatically if it also wins the Rio Cup.

Ronaldinho struck the left upper corner of goalkeeper Thiago, then celebrated running near the sideline with several Flamengo players lined up behind him and dancing.

Boavista played a man down from the 78th after Argentine-born striker Carlos Frontini was sent off after an altercation with Flamengo midfielder Renato.

Boavista advanced to the semifinals with a last-round victory in the group stage before shocking Fluminense in a penalty shootout to reach the Guanabara Cup final for the first time. It has never beaten Flamengo since being founded in 2004.

The top Rio de Janeiro clubs - Flamengo, Fluminense, Vasco and Botafogo - have won the Guanabara Cup every time since 2005, when Volta Redonda clinched the title.