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Ronaldinho off to winning start for Fluminense

Xinhua, August 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

Two-time FIFA World Player of the Year winner Ronaldinho helped Fluminense to a 1-0 win over Gremio on Saturday in his first match for the Rio de Janeiro club.

The 35-year-old played the full 90 minutes at the Maracana stadium, despite having only begun training with his new teammates on Monday.

Playing in a free-roaming forward role, the former Barcelona star was involved in most of the home team's best scoring chances.

He started the move that led to Fluminense's 77th minute goal when his long pass was flicked on by Wellington Paulista, before Marcos Junior rounded the goalkeeper and fired into an empty net.

Gremio were reduced to 10 men just after halftime when Wallace was shown a second yellow card for a bad foul on Junior.

Ronaldinho praised his teammates and admitted he was surprised to play the entire game.

"It was my first match here and I wanted to win," Ronaldinho said. "Now I want to work hard to recuperate my physical fitness." Endi