Flamengo's Filipe Luis, left, vies with Fluminenses's Dodi, during their Rio de Janeiro state championship football match at Maracana football stadium, Rio de Janeiro on July 8, 2020. (PHOTO / AFP)

RIO DE JANEIRO — Flamengo edged toward their 36th Rio de Janeiro state title on Sunday by beating rivals Fluminense 2-1 in the first leg of the final at the Maracana stadium.

Michael Delgado came off the bench to score a 73rd-minute winner after Evanilson canceled out an early strike by Flamengo's Fiorentina loanee Pedro.

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The second leg will also be played at the Maracana on Wednesday.

In June, the Rio state championship became the first Brazilian football league to restart after all sport in the South American country was halted in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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The Brazilian Football Confederation last week said the national Serie A season would begin on August 9, three months behind its original schedule.