The Globe
The recovery of Fla and Leonardo Moura
The full-back scores a great goal and participates in the other two, by Souza and Obina, in the victory (3-1) over second-placed Cruzeiro
Photo caption: LEONARDO MOURA makes the gesture of rocking a baby: after harsh criticism, a sign of new life in Brazil
In the Brazilian Championship, Flamengo actually has two teams. Away from home, the team has won only one of its 11 matches. At Maracanã, yesterday's 3-1 victory over Cruzeiro was the seventh in a nine-game unbeaten streak. Thinking they would see the team that passively lost to Internacional 3-0 on Sunday, the fans even booed a few times. After his disappointing performance in the last defeat, Leonardo Moura was a different player. With a stunning goal and a hand in the other two, the full-back helped Flamengo move away from the relegation zone and Cruzeiro away from the title race.
"I needed a match like that. The criticism was harsh. If I do my best, the fans will be on our side," said Leonardo Moura.
With the victory, Flamengo moved up from 16th to 14th place. And the Minas Gerais team, still in second place, missed the chance to reduce São Paulo's nine-point lead. On Sunday, without Souza, who received his third card, Flamengo faces Vasco. Fábio Luciano, injured, is doubtful.
Flamengo started the game well positioned and dominated the midfield. Even so, the fans were showing impatience, especially with Leonardo Moura, who would soon turn their protest into applause. In the 13th minute, the full-back dribbled twice and fired a dangerous shot. He then crossed from the right, and Toró shot just wide of the post. From the edge of the box, Leonardo Moura chipped the ball over, and Fábio palmed it away for a corner. On the left, Souza passed the ball between Emerson's legs and crossed for Toró, who headed it in for Leonardo Moura to collect and score a stunning goal from the edge of the box in the 27th minute.
Shortly after the goal, Leonardo Moura controlled the ball, chipped it over the bar, and passed it to Toró, who fired over the bar. Renato Augusto scored the second goal with a left-footed shot in the 34th minute, but the play was already correctly stopped due to Cristian's offside flag. Fábio Luciano headed the ball down, Fábio rebounded, but Rômulo, with his shin, sent the last good chance before halftime over.
After the restart for the second half, coach Joel Santana lamented the team's failure to settle the score in the first half and warned of Cruzeiro's strengths and the risks that lay ahead. But the one who continued to pose a threat was Leonardo Moura on the right. After dribbling past Charles, the full-back crossed to Fábio Luciano, who sent the ball wide in the 8th minute. In Cruzeiro's first good attack, Ramires advanced between the defenders and shot just wide of the post. In the 13th minute, Fábio Luciano felt pain in his groin but remained on the field, struggling to keep Cruzeiro in check. In the 17th minute, Luiz Alberto headed over.
The crowd was already growing nervous when Leonardo Moura once again calmed the mood. After a fine solo play, the full-back crossed from the right for Souza to score the second in the 21st minute, heading it into the right corner past Fábio, who jumped back. The game, which seemed decided, became more exciting after Kerlon came on, passing it to Guilherme to reduce the deficit for Cruzeiro with a shot under Bruno's legs in the 37th minute. But once again, Leonardo Moura brought relief. After the full-back's play, Léo Medeiros passed to Obina to score the third in the 43rd minute.
Flamengo: Bruno; Leonardo Moura, Fabio Luciano (Thiago Sales), Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Romulo, Jailton, Cristian and Toro (Obina); Renato Augusto (Leo Medeiros) and Souza. Cruzeiro: Fabio; Jonathan (Luiz Alberto, later Guilherme), Emerson, Thiago Heleno and Fernandinho; Charles (Kerlon), Ramires, Maicosuel and Wagner; Alecsandro and Roni. Referee: Sergio da Silva Carvalho (DF). Yellow cards: Toro, Souza, Charles and Maicosuel. Revenue: 162.679. Paying attendance: 11.640.
FLAMENGO
BRUNO: In the first half, he was a privileged spectator of the game. In the second half, he appeared confidently in the 31st minute and was not to blame for Guilherme's goal. 6,5.
LEONARDO MOURA: He reached the baseline with ease, set up plays for his teammates, scored a beautiful goal, the first, and participated in the other two. 9.
FÁBIO LUCIANO: He was solid in marking and almost scored a goal in the 38th minute of the first half. He felt a bruise in his right thigh in the 14th minute of the second half but was only substituted in the 34th minute. 7. THIAGO SALES came on and took care of composing the defensive system. 5.
RONALDO ANGELIM: He did the basics in marking without complicating things. 6.
JUAN: He knows how to play the ball and created good plays on the left side. 6,5.
RÔMULO: Safe in disarming work but has difficulty getting the ball out to attack. 6.
JAÍLTON: Hard-working in marking. 5,5.
CRISTIAN: Knows how to mark and easily reaches the opponent's attack.7.
TORÓ: Great touch and movement. The header for Leonardo Moura's goal was a masterpiece. 7,5. OBINA came on late in the game and made his mark by scoring the third goal. 6,5.
RENATO AUGUSTO: He's still having some difficulty finishing plays. 6. LEO MEDEIROS came on in his place to reinforce the midfield marking and played a key role in the team's third goal. 6.
SOUZA: Initiated the play that led to Leonardo Moura's goal. Helped with marking and was present in the box for the goal he scored with a header. 7,5.
JOEL SANTANA: Flamengo was a well-distributed team on the field but took a while to realize that Fábio Luciano was injured. 6.
CRUZEIRO
A team with little inspiration in the first half that improved a little in the second with the introduction of Kerlon and Guilherme.
ARBITRATION
Sérgio da Silva Carvalho followed the action closely and performed well.
Sports Journal
News and a lot of optimism at Fla
Juan renews his contract and Maxi and Roger could reappear in the classic against Vasco
Leo Schabbach and Nathan de Lima
Nina Lima
Right-back Leonardo Moura paved the way for the red-black victory with a great goal
Besides beating the league's second-place team and moving away from the relegation zone, Flamengo has plenty of other good news for next Sunday's derby against Vasco da Gama at Maracanã. Striker Maxi Biancucci, who was in excellent form when he suffered a left thigh injury, and midfielder Roger, who was sidelined to regain fitness, could return to the team as early as the next round.
Besides them, the other good news came from the full-backs. Juan agreed on the terms of his new contract with the club and is expected to renew it until 2010 later this week. Right-back Leonardo Moura, who had been going through a very bad spell and was already starting to irritate the fans, once again had an excellent performance. In yesterday's game, he was the team's main player and, in addition to scoring the first goal, participated in every dangerous play and delivered a perfect cross for Souza to score the second.
"I've been working to get back to playing well, and thank God I got the shot right and managed to score," said Leonardo Moura, who also revealed that the fans' dissatisfaction with his recent performances hasn't really bothered him. "I'm not worried about that. I always try to do my best, and fortunately, everything went well today. It was a very important victory for the whole team," the player celebrated.
Problems\ However, Flamengo didn't have all the good news last night. Defender Fabio Luciano, the main man in the red-and-black defense, left the field with thigh pain and will be monitored until the derby against Vasco. Souza, who has been outstanding in recent matches, received his third yellow card and will be out for Flamengo on Sunday. On the other hand, his current replacement, the darling Obina, came on well in yesterday's game, scored a goal, and promises to maintain the same high level in attack.\
Joel praises Flamengo's efforts
During the week, the impression was that Flamengo would enter the field with a more cautious game plan, and therefore would try to defend itself more than attack Cruzeiro. However, this impression turned out to be completely wrong. Flamengo attacked the Minas Gerais team the entire time and proved to be much more offensive than anyone expected.
Coach Joel Santana was not surprised by the performance.
"In fact, we played the same way as in recent games, with only Rômulo as a holding man and the others coming out to play. Toró, for example, didn't play as a marking man, he played up front," he explained.
"Today the team was very dedicated," praised the coach, who will observe the Argentine Colace in training this Thursday.
Hell is a thing of the past at Mengão
Flamengo defeats Cruzeiro and moves considerably further away from the dreaded relegation zone
Thiago Bokel
Nina Lima
Souza left his mark and gave Cruzeiro's defenders no peace.
From the least expected, a gala night by Toró and Leonardo Moura left Flamengo at Maracanã with a sense of accomplishment. The 3-1 victory over Cruzeiro, with goals from the full-back himself, Souza, and Obina, with Guilherme pulling one back for the Minas Gerais team, moved the team, now with 32 points, away from the relegation zone.
It didn't even seem like Flamengo was fighting relegation and Cruzeiro was trying to close in on the top spot. Irresistible from the start of the first half, coach Joel Santana's team put the pressure on their opponents and created some good chances. The first came when Leonardo Moura, their best player on the pitch, burst into the box, dribbled past Fernandinho, and fired a dangerous shot. Exploiting the right flank of their attack effectively, Flamengo had another great opportunity shortly after, when the full-back again passed to Toró, who fired a low shot just wide of the post.
Great goal opens the scoring
The first goal didn't take long to arrive, and it was a masterpiece. In the 27th minute, Souza slipped the ball between the opponent's legs and lifted it into the box, Toró headed it, and Leonardo Moura, with a first-time effort, fired a precise shot into Fábio's top corner to open the scoring. From then on, Flamengo began to control their lead and only threatened with lofted balls into the box. On one such shot, Fábio Luciano, following a corner kick, headed dangerously, forcing Fábio to make a great save. On the rebound, Rômulo, alone, managed to miss an incredible goal.
Killing the Fox
Despite continuing to play better, Flamengo came back in the second half, giving Cruzeiro space, and the game became more open. Even better, Cruzeiro nearly scored a second goal, thanks to a header from defender Fábio Luciano. However, in the 20th minute, there was no way out. Leonardo Moura burst into the box and crossed for Souza, who only had to dislodge Fábio.
Cruzeiro, however, didn't give up. In the 36th minute, Kerlon made a great play and sent forward Guilherme through, who slotted the ball past Bruno to reduce the deficit. Seven minutes later, however, in a blistering counterattack, Léo Moura passed to Léo Medeiros, who crossed for Obina to seal the victory.
Fla beats Cruzeiro and climbs the table
Pedro Sá pedrosa@jsports.com.br
Nina Lima/JS
Léo Moura celebrates his goal, the first of Fla's victory
Flamengo once again proved that Maracanã is their home ground, defeating Cruzeiro 3-1 on Wednesday night. Leonardo Moura, Souza, and Obina scored for the red-and-black team. Guilherme pulled one back for the Minas Gerais team. With the victory, Flamengo moves up to 14th with 32 points. Cruzeiro remains on 45 points, nine behind leaders São Paulo.
Flamengo started the match with a strong pace, despite a defensive midfield. Just four minutes in, after a play initiated by Renato Augusto, Toró missed the opportunity. Flamengo didn't give Cruzeiro any space to play and quickly counterattacked. The attacking duo of Renato Augusto and Souza played a strong tactical role, pressuring Cruzeiro's possession. Despite dominating the match, the small crowd at Maracanã was picking on full-back Leonardo Moura. The boos didn't faze the player, who was involved in Flamengo's key attacking moves. It was Leonardo Moura himself who threatened Fábio's goal with a free kick that sailed just wide of the crossbar.
In the 27th minute, the Flamengo full-back silenced the crowd's boos with a stunning goal. Souza made a good play and crossed perfectly for Toró, who headed it in for Leonardo Moura, who fired a rocket past goalkeeper Fábio. The goal captivated Joel's team, and even more so for Leonardo Moura, who began to receive applause with every touch of the ball. Flamengo could have increased the score, but missed clear chances, sometimes due to prudence and sometimes due to bad luck. With Alecsandro out of the game, Cruzeiro threatened with Roni's speed and Wagner's passing, but nothing could threaten Bruno's goal, who wasn't particularly challenged in the first half.
The Celeste team came back a little stronger in the second half and had a few chances, but lacked finishing. In the 13th minute, midfielder Ramires took a shot that went wide of the Flamengo goal. When the Minas Gerais team was more present on the field, Flamengo scored their second goal. Leonardo Moura went to the byline and crossed perfectly for striker Souza to head into Fábio's right corner. The goal dampened any potential comeback from the Minas Gerais team, which felt the blow. Flamengo settled into the match, and Cruzeiro again began to attack with danger and scored their goal thanks to two of the club's promising youngsters. Kérlon advanced and delivered a precise pass for Guilherme to tap in between Bruno's legs.
Before the red-and-black fans could feel the apprehension, the team sealed the score with another play by full-back Leonardo Moura. The player delivered a superb pass to Léo Medeiros, who left Obina free to finish into the back of the net. Flamengo 3-1. With the victory solidified, the 11 paying fans at Maracanã were able to celebrate another triumph, which moves the team up the table and boosts morale for Sunday's derby against Vasco.
Ibson should be out of action for a month
Midfielder Ibson sprained his right ankle against Internacional and could be sidelined for approximately a month, making him unavailable for Sunday's match against Vasco. On Tuesday, the athlete could barely put his right leg on the ground.
Red and black cauldron
Proposal aims to unify tickets for Flamengo's basketball and football games at the Maracanã Complex
Rafael Oliveira
Ursula Nery/JS
If everything goes well, Flamengo's point guard Fred will be able to take fans to the Maracanã Complex for football and basketball.
The return of Maracanãzinho to Rio basketball has made the eyes of Flamengo's executives light up. Ever since the traditional arena reopened, the Gávea board has been dreaming of hosting their matches there. And this goal is now only a matter of time. This year's State Championship finals provided Flamengo with the ideal opportunity to once again host matches at the national basketball temple. The confirmation that teams like Vasco and Fluminense will be participating in the tournament is a guarantee that fans will turn out for the games. And there's nothing better than these great classics being played at the Rio giant.
To attract fans to games at Maracanãzinho against teams from the interior, the club has the ideal attraction: scheduling kickoffs three hours before the team's own matches at Maracanã, with a nominal fee or even free. This idea is being studied by the board and could be approved by next week.
The suggestion was made by coach Paulo Chupeta himself. "Once, while talking to Arnaldo (Szpirro, the club's Basketball Director), I mentioned that when I was young, my club—Benfica, in Portugal—used to run this type of promotion. He was so excited about the idea that he decided to propose it to the football department," the coach commented.
Chupeta has fond memories of the gym and believes the initiative has everything to please the fans. "The fans know that basketball is Flamengo's second sport. And they always support us, no matter what tournament. The sport is already part of their calendar. If the matches are held in a well-located venue, like Maracanãzinho, we'll definitely have a full house." The players were also excited by the news. Stars like point guards Fred and Duda praised the initiative. "Rio de Janeiro basketball has everything to gain. Maracanãzinho is the ideal place for us to play matches against Vasco and Fluminense. I hope everything goes well and we can relive the sport's golden age," commented Duda.
Maria Helena Braun
By Letter
Warning card
I'd like to ask the readers of this column for permission to address a topic that's long overdue, as it's already Thursday and a lot has happened since last weekend's match. But I can't help but recall the detail (and I mean it!) that saved Flamengo from falling back into the relegation zone after their loss to Inter.
One less red card than their direct rival, Atlético Paranaense. In the 21st-century world, there are cards for everything, and they're all very important, vital to our survival: cell phone cards, virtual cards, bank cards, debit cards, supermarket cards, time cards, love cards, Christmas cards, credit cards, and, who would have thought, a red card. In Flamengo's history, never has a single card less had so much credit, so much importance. It was thanks to this card, used as a tiebreaker, that Flamengo escaped the relegation zone: the Rio de Janeiro club had four, compared to Atlético Paranaense's five, after the weekend's round. Phew!!!! The red-and-black team escaped sinking back into the mud by just one card. That's what a credit card is. The rest is the rest.
If you have credit, you won't have any problems. And thanks to this one less card, Flamengo fans were able to puff out their chests and say: "I'm out of the relegation zone!" So, the team now knows that they must pay attention to this small - big - detail, capable of deciding who gets relegated to the second division, who stays in the first, and so on.
If the team plays poorly, loses consecutive matches, spends the entire championship on the ropes, at least it has a lifeline: discipline. Let's be careful with cards! They can decide our future. We need to have credibility in the tiebreaker. Blowing a card, no way! Having learned the lesson, Flamengo now only needs to present its "calling card" in this Brazilian Championship, which is already entering the final stretch. As you can see, cards are very useful in our lives. Without them, we wouldn't survive, and above all, we need to save to have a balance and pay our debts.
O Dia
Flamengo beats Cruzeiro 3-1 and escapes hell
Rio - Flamengo has eased its crisis. In a match in which Leonardo Moura was the standout performer, the team defeated Cruzeiro 2-0 at the Maracanã, moving up to 32 points and 14th place. On Sunday, the team will face Vasco.
The red-and-blacks started with full pressure, cornering Raposa in their own territory. Suffocating the opponent with tight marking, they twice created danger. In the first, in the fourth minute, Cristhian cut in and crossed back, but Souza couldn't reach the ball, missing a great chance.
In the 15th minute, Flamengo pressed again. Leonardo Moura shot on goal, the ball bounced off the defense, and Toró fired a low shot just wide of the post. Cruzeiro, unrecognizable, couldn't find its feet. Flamengo took advantage of Cruzeiro's lack of interest and ended up taking the lead with a stunning goal by Léo Moura.
Souza made an excellent run down the left, freed himself from the defender, passed the ball between his defender's legs, and crossed into the box for Toró's head, who laid it off gently for Leonardo Moura to unleash a first-time bomb. A stunning goal in the 27th minute.
Other opportunities were created, goals were missed, and a curious play occurred. Leonardo Moura took a free kick, the ball bouncing in front of Fábio, who saved it with a start.
Near the end of the first half, Souza once again made a mistake. He committed an unnecessary foul in the middle of the field, received his third yellow card, and will miss Sunday's derby against Vasco at the Maracanã.
Cruzeiro came back stronger in the second half, but it wasn't until the 12th minute that they had their first shot on goal, Ramirez trying to put it into the corner with Bruno beaten. Four minutes later, Minas Gerais threatened again. Luiz Alberto headed a cross just wide of the post.
But it was Flamengo who scored the second. In the 20th minute, Leonardo Moura broke free of his markers, crossed perfectly, and Souza headed in to make it 2-0, breaking a five-game losing streak.
Trailing, Cruzeiro came from behind, and Guilherme pulled one back in the 37th minute, flicking the ball between Bruno's legs. Obina came on for Toró and helped the team avoid relegation. Leonardo Moura led a blistering counterattack, passing it to Léo Medeiros, who left Obina one-on-one with the goalkeeper to score the third in the 43rd minute.
The red-and-black fans left Maracanã taunting Vasco, "Cod, you can wait, your time will come." Leonaro Moura, who was booed by a small portion of the crowd, was the name of the game. "If it weren't for my teammates, I wouldn't do anything," he thanked. His goal was dedicated to his daughter, Maria Eduarda, 2 years old.
Sports Gazette
Players celebrate good performance against the runner-up
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - After their 3-1 victory over Cruzeiro, Flamengo's players couldn't hide their joy. According to them, Flamengo managed to neutralize their opponents and leave with all three points at Maracanã. Souza, who scored the second goal for the Rio de Janeiro team, praised all aspects of his team. "I think the positive aspect was the team's determination and desire to win. Without the ball, we scored well, and with it, we attacked well. This was great for our position in the standings, and I hope this victory over the second-place team gives us strength for the away games," he declared.
Defender Fábio Luciano agreed with him. "We put all our hard work into practice. We marked well and knew how to capitalize on our chances in attack. Congratulations to all the players," he said.
Obina, who made his mark late in the second half, also appreciated his teammates' dedication. "We have to play like this when we're at home. The trick is to always push forward in search of goals," he analyzed.
Leonardo Moura, who made peace with the fans by scoring a beautiful goal and contributing to two others, celebrated his comeback after the 3-0 loss to Internacional over the weekend. "I was lucky in the game. I had a hand in all three goals and managed to turn things around," he explained.
Joel is satisfied with the Rubro-negro's tactical application
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Flamengo coach Joel Santana was pleased with his players' performance in the 3-1 victory over Cruzeiro at Maracanã. According to him, the Rio de Janeiro club's players positioned themselves well to neutralize their opponents. When asked about the three-man defensive midfielder system, the coach explained that he couldn't give the Minas Gerais team free rein in the midfield. "Cruzeiro has the best attack in the competition. How can I play wide against a team like that? I congested the midfield to make it difficult for them to create chances," he declared. "Even so, only Rômulo was a true defensive midfielder. Jaílton, Cristian, and Toró know how to get out there." It's worth noting that Cruzeiro has scored 57 goals in the Brasileirão so far.
The manager emphasized that Flamengo managed to move away from the relegation zone. "The victory was deserved. Now we can breathe at least until Sunday's derby," he said, referring to the match against Vasco. With the result, Flamengo moved up to 14th place with 32 points.
Joel also recalled the 3-0 loss to Internacional. "I complained a lot about the other game, that we had a tactical plan, but it wasn't executed on the field. Today (Wednesday) was different. Flamengo imposed their own rhythm of play. Our players performed well, especially our full-backs," he analyzed.
Flamengo beats Cruzeiro at Maracanã and moves away from relegation
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Flamengo achieved a strong result at Maracanã. In a postponed match from the 16th round of the Brazilian Championship, the team defeated Cruzeiro 3-1, recovering from a 3-1 loss to Internacional and moving away from the relegation zone. With the result, the Rubro-Negro reached 32 points, moving up to 14th place. It's worth noting that the Rio de Janeiro team still has a game in hand over the other teams in the competition. Next Sunday, the team plays the derby against Vasco.
Meanwhile, Minas Gerais, who had lost only once in their last 11 matches, remained stuck at 45 points. This leaves the nine-point gap to leaders São Paulo unchanged. The team plays again this Sunday, when it faces Atlético Mineiro.
The first half was dominated by the hosts. To give you an idea, the visitors' only dangerous chance came in the ninth minute, when Alecsandro was released at the edge of the box and fired a powerful shot. However, Bruno, well-positioned, made a firm save. Three minutes later, Leonardo Moura received a through ball from Renato Augusto, cut inside Fernandinho twice, and fired a powerful shot over the opposing goal.
Toró also had his chance in the 14th minute. The midfielder collected a rebound from the opposing defense and fired a powerful shot from inside the box, scaring goalkeeper Fábio, who saw the ball fly past his right post.
The home team, the better team on the field, opened the scoring with a stunning goal. After a fine individual play by Souza, who placed the ball between the legs of a defender and crossed into the box, Toró headed it into the box, and Leonardo Moura, with a precise free-kick in the 27th minute, bulged the net.
The excited right-back chipped Fernandinho two minutes later and passed to Toró, who attempted a shot from the edge of the box, sending the ball over the bar. In the 38th minute, Fábio Luciano nearly doubled the lead when he capitalized on a corner kick to head the ball into the corner, forcing Fábio to stretch. The rebound was fired wide by Rômulo, who fired it unmarked.
In the second half, Cruzeiro began to have more possession, but continued to struggle to create chances, giving the Red-Blacks chances on the counterattack. In one such move, eight minutes in, Leonardo Moura broke through his marker and crossed for Fábio Luciano, who headed the ball close to the opposing goal. The answer came three minutes later, when Ramires unexpectedly appeared in the attacking half, beat two defenders, and fired a shot into the corner, scaring goalkeeper Bruno, who only saw the ball go out over the goal line.
However, the home team gave the Celeste team a cold shower in the 20th minute. Another Leonardo Moura play saw the ball find its way to Souza's head, who only had to deflect it into Fábio's right corner to extend the lead.
Alecsandro had the opportunity to reduce the deficit in the 31st minute. The forward received a pass from Guilherme in the box and, from inside the box, shot into the corner, forcing Bruno to stretch to make the save. The rebound, Maicosuel shot straight out. Guilherme didn't waste his chance. The center forward received a pass from Kerlon, who had just come on for Charles, and tapped it past the goalkeeper to score his team's first goal in the 36th minute.
However, Flamengo closed in on their defense, and on a counterattack in the 43rd minute, Renato Augusto left Obina facing goal. The center forward, who had come on minutes earlier in place of Toró, deflected the ball into the back of the net, sealing the victory.
PeléNet
Fla wins, moves away from risk and keeps Cruzeiro away from the top
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Flamengo once again made good use of the points it accumulated in the Brazilian Championship. This Wednesday, at Maracanã, the red-and-blacks defeated Cruzeiro 3-1, winning the third of their four fewer matches than their opponents. The result moved them out of the relegation zone and complicated the Celestes' dream of winning the title, as the team remained nine points behind the leader.
After putting a lot of pressure on Cruzeiro from the start, Flamengo opened the scoring with a powerful shot from right-back Leonardo Moura (the match's standout player) in the 27th minute of the game.
In the final stage, the scorer of the first goal crossed a ball to Souza's head, who extended the lead in the 20th minute. Trailing, Cruzeiro pressed in search of an equalizer and reduced the deficit with Guilherme in the 36th minute, after a great play by young Kerlon.
However, two minutes from the end, Obina scored the third for the red-blacks - in a counterattack that included Leonardo Moura's participation - and closed the score.
"I needed a match like that, even to gain more confidence. I've been criticized a lot, but today [Wednesday] I was happy to be involved in all three goals and I turned things around," commented Leonardo Moura.
With the victory in the postponed match of the 16th round, Flamengo reached 32 points and rose from 16th to 14th place.
Thus, the team moved away from the brink of the relegation zone and took a breather by opening up a three-point lead over the relegation zone. "It was a deserved victory, against a great team, and it gives us a breathing space until Sunday," commented coach Joel Santana.
Flamengo's move away from the relegation zone was possible thanks to another good use of the points the team won in its rescheduled games.
In the other two postponed matches, both also at Maracanã, Flamengo won the derby against Fluminense 1-0 and thrashed Juventude 4-0. Now, the red-and-black team only has one game less to play - against Vasco, on October 18, in the seventh round.
On the other hand, with the loss in the only game in hand, Cruzeiro was left with 45 points. Thus, it missed the opportunity to reduce its lead over São Paulo—which leads the championship with 54—from nine to six points and gain momentum in the title race.
After the match, Cruzeiro's players admitted that the team could have played with more commitment. "Our team accepted Flamengo's marking and didn't try to play football. We thought we were going to win at any moment, but football isn't like that," criticized striker Alecsandro.
Now, Cruzeiro and Flamengo are preparing to face their archrivals next Sunday. While Cruzeiro faces Atlético-MG at Mineirão Stadium at 16 p.m., Flamengo faces Vasco at Maracanã Stadium at 18:10 p.m.
Fla loses Souza and waits for Fábio Luciano for the classic
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Flamengo already has a confirmed absence for the derby against Vasco da Gama next Sunday at Maracanã in the Brazilian Championship. Striker Souza received his third yellow card against Cruzeiro and will serve an automatic suspension. However, the team is still waiting for defender Fábio Luciano to recover in order to avoid losing another starter.
During the match against Cruzeiro, the player touched his left groin several times, complaining of pain. However, he remained on the field until the end of the match.
Therefore, Fábio Luciano will be re-evaluated this Thursday in Gávea to determine if he's fit enough to face Vasco. Regardless, he's optimistic. "I think I can face Vasco. Now it's time to rest. By then, I'll be ready," the defender predicted.
If he's without Fábio Luciano, coach Joel Santana will be without several players. Midfielder Ibson is still recovering from a severe right ankle sprain and is unlikely to be fit to play in the derby.
Besides him, Argentine Maxi Biancucchi is also doubtful for the match against Vasco. He had practically recovered from a left thigh strain, but felt the injury again and missed the matches against Inter and Cruzeiro. However, he has a better chance of playing in the derby than Ibson.
Meanwhile, Flamengo is expected to have midfielder Roger back for the derby against Vasco. The player was even left off the bench by coach Joel Santana for the match against Cruzeiro to improve his fitness, and is ready to return to the team for Sunday's match.
Joel celebrates Flamengo's victory and rejects 'retranca'
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Besides the three points that kept Flamengo out of the relegation zone in the Brazilian Championship, the 3-1 victory over Cruzeiro this Wednesday at Maracanã made coach Joel Santana happy for another reason. According to the coach, the result proved that he didn't set up the team to play defensively tonight.
"I think the result speaks louder. Let's not lie. I was surprised when I opened the newspapers today [Wednesday] and saw news that the team was going to play defensively. But nothing like that happened. We attacked the opponent and set the pace of the game," said Joel.
The reason for the rumors that Flamengo would play defensively this Wednesday was the lineup chosen by the coach in training last Tuesday. After the session, Joel Santana decided to field three defensive midfielders (Rômulo, Cristian, and Jaílton) and only Toró to create plays.
"Only Rômulo is a player who plays defensively. The other two [Cristian and Jaílton] go out to play. So, we play with the same system we use in every game," defended Joel Santana, who, despite denying the "retranca", gave a reason for Flamengo to play defensively.
"This team [Cruzeiro] is second in the league and has the best attack. How could we play openly against a team like that, knowing that our defense has already conceded more than 30 goals?" he asked.
Finally, Joel celebrated Flamengo's move away from the relegation zone. With the victory over Cruzeiro, the red-and-black team opened up a three-point lead over the relegation zone. "It was a well-deserved victory, against a great team, and it gives us a breathing room until Sunday," he concluded.
Fla praises the fulfillment of his homework
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
After being defeated by Inter, in Porto Alegre, last Saturday, Flamengo returned to play at Maracanã in the Brazilian Championship this Wednesday, against Cruzeiro, and made peace with the victory by defeating the opponent 3-1. After the match, the red-blacks praised the fulfillment of their homework.
After the loss to Inter, coach Joel Santana complained about the team's performance, saying that the team doesn't play the same way away from home as it does at home. But after tonight's match, the coach praised the team's tactical obedience.
"I complained a lot about the other game, because we defined a tactical situation, but the players didn't put it into practice. And today they did," commented the red-and-black coach.
The players also highlighted the team's commitment to fulfilling the coach's instructions. "It was a match in which everyone tried their best. That's how we have to play at home. When we're struggling, we have to push forward to score goals," noted striker Obina.
Defender Fábio Luciano also praised the team, remembering the importance of the victory in this Wednesday's game, which was the third of the four fewer games that Flamengo accumulated in relation to its opponents in the championship.
"The team knew they needed to win this game. We ran, we worked hard, and we knew how to take advantage of our chances. Congratulations to the team; it was a good victory," he noted.
BalloonSport
Fla delivers half the cup to São Paulo
Rubro-negro beats Cruzeiro, escapes the relegation zone and helps Tricolor Paulista
The script presented to the Flamengo fans this Wednesday night wasn't the most promising, with several supporting players playing key midfield roles. But what the more than 11 passionate fans saw was a fighting, somewhat creative team that deserved to beat Cruzeiro 3-1 in a postponed match of the 16th round of the Brazilian Championship. The one laughing out loud is São Paulo, which maintains a nine-point lead over Raposa: 54 to 45. Flamengo reached 32 points and moved away from the relegation zone (it is now in 14th). On Sunday, the Flamengo faces Vasco at Maracanã, while the Celeste team faces Atlético-MG at Mineirão (watch the video with highlights from Wednesday's game above).
Fla rules the first half
Flamengo had the first successful move of the match: on a quick counterattack, Renato Augusto passed to Leo Moura, who dribbled past Fernandinho twice and fired a shot just wide of Fábio's crossbar in the 13th minute. Soon after, in the 15th minute, Toró had a great chance with his right foot, facing goal, but the ball deflected off Thiago Heleno and went out for a corner.
In the 27th minute, the Flamengo fans went wild with a beautiful goal from Leo Moura: Souza twisted the defense on the left, crossed to Toró, who headed it to the right-back, who unleashed a bomb, leaving the Celeste goalkeeper with no chance. The home team celebrated with the score 1-0 on the scoreboard.
Leo Moura celebrates his goal a lot
And it was all Flamengo: in the 38th minute, Renato Augusto took a corner from the right, Fábio Luciano headed it in, and Rômulo, under the crossbar, couldn't quite get the ball in to make it two. Then, Leo Moura took a free kick unpretentiously, Fábio cleared it, but no one took advantage.
Teams only change fields
Just as in the first 45 minutes, Flamengo started to dominate the second half. So much so that, in the 8th minute, Leo Moura made another beautiful run down the right and crossed into the goalmouth for Fábio Luciano, who beat the defense and nearly scored the second. Soon after, the visitors made their presence felt, with Ramires leading a counterattack and sending the ball to Bruno's right.
In the 20th minute, the Maracanã shook, even though it wasn't sold out. Leo Moura, the match's best player, shone again on the right and crossed for Souza, who headed the ball home to make it 2-0. Cruzeiro felt the blow and only started to trouble the crowd again in the 30th minute. Alecsandro shot, Bruno parried, and Maicosuel sent the ball over after collecting the rebound.
With the result, the red-and-black team preferred to stay a little more closed in midfield and defense, allowing the Foxes to press harder in search of at least a consolation goal. In the 37th minute, the sky-blues did what they wanted: Kerlon passed well to Guilherme, who burst into the box and reduced the deficit.
But the night was red and black, and it couldn't end without a special touch from the fans' favorite. In the 43rd minute, Leo Moura once again led a counterattack, passing to Leo Medeiros, who immediately gave Obina a gift: obviously, the Black Angel didn't let the chance to seal the heavenly coffin slip away.
"This victory was very important, as we were all being heavily criticized. I thank my teammates for their help. Thank God I was able to play a great game and was rewarded with a goal—Leo Moura, the star of the match.
Joel: 'Alert is still on'
Coach celebrates victory, but asks his players to be careful in upcoming games
Marcio Iannacca
Coach Joel Santana was visibly relieved after Flamengo's 3-1 victory over Cruzeiro this Wednesday at Maracanã. The coach, however, stated that the team has not yet achieved its goal, which is to move further away from the relegation zone in the Brazilian Championship.
"Flamengo's situation is still uncertain. The warning lights at Gávea are still on. Until our team reaches the target number of points, we won't have peace of mind," says Joel Santana.
According to the coach, Flamengo needs 48 to 50 points to escape the relegation zone. Currently, Flamengo sits in 14th place with 32 points. Joel Santana took the opportunity to analyze the team's next two opponents.
"We have a very difficult derby ahead of us, and then we'll face Juventude in the South. They're both tough teams," the coach analyzes.
Renato Augusto leaves the field to applause
After boos in recent games, midfielder receives affection from red-black fans
Marcio Iannacca
Midfielder Renato Augusto left the field in the 38th minute of the second half to a standing ovation from Flamengo fans. The player returned the affection by making a gesture of veneration to the Flamengo fans in the stands.
In Flamengo's recent games, Renato Augusto was also substituted. However, he left the field to boos from fans. The player stated this week that he is prepared for the pressure from the fans.
"The boos came now, after another year as a professional. If it had happened earlier, I don't know how I would have reacted," says the player.
Leo Moura pays tribute to his daughter with a great goal\ The right-back scores and dedicates it to Maria Eduarda, just one year old\
A standout player in Flamengo's 3-1 victory over Cruzeiro, Leo Moura scored a goal, celebrated as if he were carrying a baby, and participated in the other two. After the match, the full-back made a point of dedicating his stunning goal to his one-year-old daughter, Maria Eduarda (watch the video below).
"I was very happy. I dedicate the goal to my daughter, who even came to training on Tuesday," said the full-back, who praised the beautiful triangulation with Souza and Toró in the goal.
But his good performance was not limited to just the great goal, as he had merit in the other two goals of Fla:
"I'm happy to have been involved in the goals. It was important. It will give me more confidence for the rest of the Brazilian Championship," he said.
Bruno with an eye on the classic
Goalkeeper says the team has to be cautious to remain undefeated at Maraca with Joel
The Flamengo fans are still celebrating the victory over Cruzeiro (watch the video below with the goals from the match), and Bruno is already thinking about Sunday's derby against Vasco. The Flamengo goalkeeper points out that his opponent, like Cruzeiro, is among the top teams in the Brazilian Championship and that it will be a tough match.
- They are at the top of the table and it will be another decision for Flamengo - he says.
Bruno also reveals how Flamengo should play on Sunday to win and maintain their unbeaten run at Maracanã since Joel Santana's arrival.
"We've been playing well at home, but this is a derby. We have to be careful to win," advises the goalkeeper.
Maraca is Fla's weapon to climb
If the current performance at the stadium is repeated (63,3%), the team will reach 48 points.
Flamengo fans celebrate at Maracanã. They are the team's hope.
With Flamengo hovering near the relegation zone, there's reason to believe it will remain in Brazil's top flight. The Red-Black team will play ten more games at Maracanã before the end of the Brasileirão, and if it maintains its record at the stadium, it will escape Série B without any problems.
The best example of this is the 2006 Brazilian Championship, also contested by 20 clubs. Ponte Preta, the first among the relegated teams, had 39 points. If they repeat their current performance at Maracanã (63,3%), Flamengo would reach 48.
With this score, the red-and-black fans may have something to celebrate besides avoiding relegation. Last year, Atlético-PR scored 48 points and qualified for the Copa Sudamericana.
Since taking over at Flamengo, coach Joel Santana has never had the displeasure of losing at Maracanã. The club's only loss in the ten games it has played at the stadium in the Brazilian Championship was in its opening match (4-2 to Palmeiras).
However, their away performance under Natalino's leadership has been dismal. Away from Rio, Flamengo has lost to Santos, Atlético-PR, Palmeiras, and Internacional. And that's worrying.
"We can't rely solely on Maracanã. We have to learn to play away from home. We learned from our mistakes against Inter. Joel said we have to play badly away from Rio, but because of our quality, we tried to play in Porto Alegre and we didn't do well," analyzes Fábio Luciano, recalling the 3-0 loss to Internacional last Saturday.
Throw
Flamengo defeats Cruzeiro and shows strength
Rubro-Negro beat Cruzeiro 3-1 and showed they have the strength to seek recovery in the Brazilian Championship
Hugo Perruso
With a strong performance, Flamengo held off the best attack in the Brazilian Championship and defeated Cruzeiro 3-1, with goals from Léo Moura, Souza, and Obina, with Guilherme scoring the equalizer, at the Maracanã stadium. Flamengo also maintained its unbeaten streak in the 21st century against Minas Gerais clubs (ten games: six wins and four draws).
For Cruzeiro, the result couldn't have been worse. They missed the chance to close the gap on leaders São Paulo, who maintained a nine-point lead.
Even with three defensive midfielders, Flamengo played well in the first half and deserved to take the lead. The lead could have been even greater if they hadn't conceded so many goals. Cruzeiro had a better start, controlling the ball more but failing to convert it into dangerous plays. Their only shot on goal came in the ninth minute, when Alecsandro took a shot from outside the box.
With a strong performance from Léo Moura, Flamengo grew into the match and began to dominate. Alongside Toró, the full-back tormented the Flamengo defense and created the team's key plays. He nearly scored in the 13th minute and, shortly thereafter, delivered a beautiful pass to the defender, who shot wide.
But the goal began on the left. Souza easily got past Émerson and crossed into the box. Toró headed the ball, and Léo Moura fired a shot without letting it fall. A stunning goal in the 27th minute. The goal threw Cruzeiro off balance. With the defense in disarray, the midfield misplacing passes, and Wagner, their key player, missing, the Minas Gerais team was unable to react. Failing to receive the ball, Roni and Alecsandro barely showed up.
Flamengo had a chance to extend their lead, but they were hampered by poor finishing. In their biggest opportunity, Rômulo missed a goal inside the six-yard box after a fine save by Fábio in the 38th minute. The only one who stood out for the team was Renato Augusto, who, out of position, missed everything he tried.
In the second half, Flamengo capitalized on their advantage and maintained the style of play that had proven successful in the first half. With their defensive midfielders well positioned, they prevented Cruzeiro from growing their attack and attempted to create danger on the counterattack. Flamengo extended their lead in the 20th minute with one of them. Léo Moura made another fine run down the right and, from a tight angle, crossed to Souza, who headed the ball into Fábio's corner.
With the score down, coach Dorival Júnior went all-in. First, he removed midfielder Luís Alberto and brought on another striker, Guilherme. Cruzeiro improved and began to play more attackingly. Minutes later, he removed another midfielder and brought on another striker, Kerlon.
And the substitutions paid off. Kerlon initiated the play and passed to Guilherme, who burst into the box and scored. The goal galvanized Cruzeiro, who went all out in search of an equalizer with six attacking players—Roni, Alecsandro, Wagner, Maicosuel, Guilherme, and Kerlon.
But it was Flamengo who scored. In a blistering counterattack, Léo Moura once again passed to Léo Medeiros, who passed to Obina, who was alone, who scored the third and sealed the victory.
With the result, Flamengo moved up two positions to 14th place with 32 points, while Cruzeiro remained in second place with 45 points.
Souza is suspended and Fábio Luciano is doubtful
Striker will not play in the classic and defender will be evaluated this Thursday\ LANCEPRESS!\
Joel Santana is certain to be absent for the derby against Vasco. Souza received his third yellow card against Cruzeiro and is out of next Sunday's derby. Another player who could miss Flamengo's match is Fábio Luciano, who was substituted due to left thigh pain and will be re-evaluated this Thursday.
"I think I can face Vasco. Now it's time to rest. I'll be ready by then," the defender predicted.
Another player who isn't expected to play is Ibson. The midfielder, with a right ankle injury, is practically out. However, the coach may have Maxi Biancucchi back, who is recovering from a left thigh injury.
This Thursday, Joel Santana will coach a training match against the youth team. Argentine Colace and Roger will participate.
Bruno is already thinking about the classic against Vasco
Flamengo goalkeeper urges caution ahead of Sunday's match\ LANCEPRESS!\
As soon as the match against Cruzeiro ended, Bruno was already thinking about Sunday's derby against Vasco. The Flamengo goalkeeper noted that his opponent, like Cruzeiro, is among the top teams in the Brazilian Championship and that it will be a tough match.
- They are at the top of the table and it will be another decision for Flamengo - he said.
Bruno also revealed how Flamengo should play on Sunday to win and maintain their unbeaten run at Maracanã since Joel Santana's arrival.
"Flamengo has been playing well at home, but this is a derby. We have to be careful to win," said the goalkeeper.
Ticket sales for the classic begin
Seventy thousand tickets were put on sale for the Clássico dos Milhões\ LANCEPRESS!\
Ticket sales for Sunday's derby between Vasco and Flamengo begin this Thursday. A total of 70 tickets will be available.
Vasco fans can purchase tickets at Maracanã ticket office 5 in São Januário and at the Calabouço headquarters in downtown Rio. Rubro-Negros will have tickets at Maracanã ticket office 8, the Gávea headquarters, and Rio Sampa as their points of sale.
The bleachers cost R$20,00, as do the field seats. Special seats cost R$100,00. Half-price tickets will be sold for the match.