RIO DE JANEIRO, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Cross-town rivals Flamengo and Botafogo produced a 2-2 draw Sunday in the 12th round Brazilian soccer championship in the Maracana stadium.

    Aleesandro put Botafogo ahead in the 34th when Juninho sent a corner kick which Flamengo's star goalkeeper Bruno stretched out to knock the ball in vain, allowing it to continue on towards Alessandro. A controversially off-side Alessandro knocked the ball in.

    Flamengo answered in the 40th minute as Adriano rose above the Botafogo defense to head the ball past the Uruguayan goalkeeper, Castillo.

    Botafogo regained the lead in the 71st minute through another corner kick. Lucio Flavio crossed the ball towards the Flamengo net and Renato out leaped the defense to head the ball past Bruno for the team's second goal.

    As the game was winding down, Flamengo responded to score the tying goal. In the 83rd minute, Emerson worked his way past two Botafogo defenders and skillfully lofted the ball from well outside of the penalty box into the left side of Castillo's net.

    After twelve rounds of play in the Brazilian Championship, Botafogo now has 11 points and stands in 17th place. Flamengo reaches its 16th point and sits in 10th place.

    In the next round of play, Flamengo will host the surprising talent of Barueri on July 22. On the same day, Botafogo will travel to Recife to play Nautico in the 13th round of play of the 2000 Brazilian Championship.