RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Erick Pulgar and Everton Soares scored first-half goals as Flamengo edged to a 2-1 away win over Vitoria in Brazil's Serie A on Tuesday.
Chilean midfielder Pulgar opened the scoring in the 15th minute in Salvador with a 25-yard drive into the top-left corner.
Soares doubled the lead just before halftime by latching onto Giorgian de Arrascaeta's perfectly weighted pass and sending a low finish past goalkeeper Gabriel.
Attacking midfielder Matheus pulled a goal back after the interval when he pounced on a loose ball to rifle home from 15 yards.
Flamengo survived a tense final half hour to secure its first win of the campaign and move to eighth in the 20-team standings, a point ahead of 13th-placed Vitoria.
"We started well but then they began pressuring us higher up the pitch and it became difficult," Pulgar told reporters after the match. "We have to be able to win this way too, to battle through games and not necessarily play attractive football."
Flamengo's next Serie A match will be against Mirassol on February 25 while Vitoria is due to face Botafogo the same day. ■
