Fluminense U17 took on Vitória U17 in the eleventh round of Brazil's youth league on Tuesday, and the hosts ran out 4-2 winners at home. The result keeps the third-placed side well clear at the top end of the table, while Vitória remain rooted near the bottom.
Fluminense sit on 30 points from 15 games, with nine wins, three draws and three losses. Vitória are in 19th place with just seven points from the same number of matches, two victories and one draw not enough to lift them out of trouble.
The hosts have been hard to break down of late, drawing 0-0 with Atlético Mineiro U17 and beating Atlético Goianiense U17 2-0 in their last two outings. Vitória's recent run has been different, including a heavy 3-0 defeat to Internacional U17 last time out.
By then the gap between the two sides looked even wider on the pitch. Fluminense pulled away from the pack with consistent results, while Vitória have not travelled to make up the numbers for long stretches of the season.
The win extends Fluminense's push for the title, and the six-point margin over their nearest rivals grows with each round. Vitória's goal difference remains a concern, and they need points quickly to avoid a late slump.