Rio de Janeiro, BRASIL, May 27 (Reuters) - Yugoslav midfielder Dejan
Petkovic scored one of the most memorable goals in the Maracana
stadium's history on Sunday to win the Carioca (Rio de Janeiro
state) championship for Flamengo.
Petkovic's goal two minutes from time gave Flamengo a 3-1
win over arch-rivals Vasco da Gama in the second leg of the
final and a 4-3 aggregate win wich allowed veteran coach Mario
Zagallo to celebrate yet another title at the age of 69.
The Yugoslav, who joined Flamengo last year after first
moving to Brazil in 1997 to play for Vitoria, curled a free-kick
into the top corner of the goal from 30 metres just as Vasco
were getting ready to celebrate the title.
An aggregate draw would have been enough for Vasco as they
had the better overall record in the competition.
"This is the most important moment in my professional life,"
said Petkovic.
Zagallo, who coached Brazil at the 1970, 1974 and 1998 World
Cups, was jubilant. "This goes to show that you must never give
up. Life is a struggle," he said. "The emotion is the same as
winning the World Cup.
