The Globe
G (bow) 4
Roger scores the winning goal (2-1) against Corinthians and puts Fla in the Libertadores zone.
Photo caption: HUGGING HIS teammates, Roger celebrates the great goal he scored after receiving a pass from Juan, entering the area and beating Felipe
Almost eight months ago, Flamengo defeated Defensor Sporting, but was eliminated from the Copa Libertadores and left to applause. Since then, the fans have continued to support them, and with yesterday's 2-1 comeback victory over Corinthians at Maracanã, Flamengo has never been closer to returning to the South American competition in this Brasileirão. With Grêmio's defeat, Flamengo is in the Libertadores zone, at least until the end of today's round, when Palmeiras and Cruzeiro play. Corinthians, meanwhile, continues its struggle against relegation.
Questioned about his successive injuries and poor performances, Roger came on at halftime to score a stunning goal that gave the red-and-blacks their fifth consecutive victory in the Brazilian Championship, a first since 1982. But the team will have difficulty maintaining this streak. Souza and Toró received their third yellow cards and will not face Cruzeiro on Sunday at Mineirão.
"It's a great feeling to score a goal here wearing the jersey of one of the greatest teams in the world. But I still have a contractual relationship and a lot of respect for Corinthians," said Roger.
The game started tensely, with numerous fouls. Faced with Flamengo's repeated misplaced passes, Corinthians were more organized. In the tenth minute, Maxi had a clear chance but shot off target. Souza also seemed disoriented when he clashed with Fábio Ferreira, received a yellow card, and kicked the ball away. On the sidelines, Joel Santana gestured as if asking if the player had gone crazy. In the 26th minute, lucidity finally appeared in the feet of Lulinha, who beautifully dribbled past Cristian and crossed for Finazzi to make it 1-0.
Ibson ties the game and pays tribute to his son
After the goal, Corinthians continued to play better. In the 37th minute, Bruno Bonfim was pulled down by Toró in the box, but he continued to push and sent the chance for a second wide. Luck was on Flamengo's side. In the 46th minute, after a beautiful one-two, Souza backheeled the ball, and Ibson tied the game. In celebration, he paid tribute to his newborn son.
In the second half, Flamengo changed its lineup, starting with Roger and Obina replacing Maxi and Souza. Within a minute, Juan was free in front of the goalkeeper, but his shot went straight at Felipe. Better equipped, Flamengo began to dominate. In the 22nd minute, Obina made a great play that Cristian missed a clear chance. Then, Leonardo Moura hit a bomb, and the goalkeeper gave it a corner. In the 30th minute, after a one-two with Juan, Roger dribbled down the left and beat Felipe to score a stunning goal. The drama lasted until the end. In stoppage time, after a scuffle in the Flamengo penalty area, Bruno Otávio shot just wide of the post.
Referee: Leonardo Gaciba (RS). Yellow cards: Souza, Toro, Fabio Ferreira, Zelão. Revenue: R$896.513. Attendance: 72.062 with 62.026 in attendance.
MISSING GAMES: Cruzeiro (f), Santos (c), Atlético-PR (c) and Náutico (f).
Incidents injure fans
70 people are treated due to a fight and a fallen fence
Maracanã showed yesterday that it still has a long way to go before it's ready to host a World Cup match—particularly in terms of security and fan behavior. Two incidents involving Flamengo fans—one of them a fight with Corinthians fans—led to around 70 people being treated at the stadium's medical center.
The conflict between Flamengo's Torcida Jovem faction and Corinthians' Fiel occurred shortly before kickoff, on the ramp next to the UERJ (State University of Rio de Janeiro). Military Police had to intervene forcefully, firing rubber bullets to contain the brawlers. Many were hit, even those who had nothing to do with the altercation, and required medical attention.
The other incident occurred in the Raça Rubro-Negra section of the stands. Due to a scuffle and pushing, one of the guardrails on the first steps broke. Many people fell onto the walkway below the stands and were trampled.
Approximately 30 people were rescued by fellow fans and firefighters and taken to the hospital with sprains, cuts, and various injuries. Blood stains remained in the stands where the people fell.
FLAMENGO
BRUNO: He wasn't to blame for Finazzi's goal. He had little to do for the rest of the match. 6.
LEONARDO MOURA: In the first half, accompanied by Gustavo Nery, he produced little. With more freedom in the second half, he was a good attacking option, almost scoring a beautiful goal. 7.
FÁBIO LUCIANO: He caused a few scares with low balls, but he won them all. He commanded the defense with his usual determination. 7.
RONALDO ANGELIM: He was very exposed to counterattacks and, in Finazzi's goal, he was unable to clear Lulinha's cross. He felt unwell and was substituted. 6. RODRIGO ARROZ came on and, despite the pressure of the game, played with great confidence. 6.
JUAN: Despite his attacking impetus, he wasn't having a good day. He missed an incredible goal, one-on-one with Felipe. 5,5.
JAÍLTON: Discreet performance, limited to marking and passing the ball to the side. 5.
CRISTIAN: He was important in the ball out, and took two good shots, but he also took others that went wide of the goal. He missed an incredible chance. 6.
TORÓ: He made up for his numerous passing errors with his impressive marking ability. 5,5.
IBSON: With a touch of class, he scored the goal that paved the way for the comeback. Physically superior, he connected the midfield and attack, leading the team forward. 8.
MAXI: He moved well, but couldn't get the upper hand on his marker. He had a chance to score, but, free in the box, he made a poor connection. 5,5. ROGER scored the winning goal after a great individual play. It was his first for Flamengo. 7.
SOUZA: Initially, nervous due to the relentless marking, he was unable to follow up his plays. However, at the end of the first half, he left Ibson in front of goal to equalize with a backheel pass. 6,5. OBINA came on, moved well, and created space in the Corinthians defense. He made an excellent pass to Cristian, who missed the goal. 6.
CORINTHIANS
Special mention goes to the good goalkeeper Felipe, and to Lulinha, who made a great play in Finazzi's goal, whose merit was the opportunism in the play.
ARBITRATION
Leonardo Gaciba led the game calmly, without any problems.
Renato Augusto's new return
Recovered from a rare injury, the star is ready to fight for a spot in the Flamengo team.
RENATO AUGUSTO: free from a rare injury to a muscle in the gluteal region, the star returns to the group to fight for a place in the team for the match against Cruzeiro
Márcio Tavares
After overcoming a piriformis muscle contracture, a rare muscle injury that put pressure on the sciatic nerve when shooting, Renato Augusto resumes his fight to regain his starting spot in Flamengo's starting lineup against Cruzeiro on Sunday at Mineirão Stadium. He suffered the injury from a shot he took in the match against Grêmio, just as he was returning from a long recovery from a hamstring injury in his right thigh, which had hampered his performance and caused a sharp drop in performance.
"I kicked and felt a pain I'd never felt before. I was surprised by the injury because I was coming off a good period of reconditioning," says Renato Augusto, who can't wait to get back into the game.
Paulo Sérgio is another one at Joel's disposal
This period of reconditioning was the coaching staff's solution for Renato Augusto to regain his physical strength and drive, which seemed lost after he returned from the U-20 World Cup in Canada feeling dejected. The red-and-black player started the tournament as a starter and ended up as a reserve for the team, which arrived as the clear favorite for the title only to be eliminated by Spain.
Like him, forward Paulo Sérgio is also back, having fully recovered from surgery to repair a fractured left clavicle. Cleared by doctors last week, he was only omitted from coach Joel Santana's squad for the final two matches of the Brazilian Championship because he needed to improve his fitness. The same situation applies to Renato Augusto, who could have been included in the squad in an emergency.
"Renato Augusto and Paulo Sérgio were left out of Joel Santana's squad for a while longer because they needed a few more days of physical preparation, having been out of the medical department for days. Joel chose to see them strengthen their conditioning so they could return in good shape, so they were saved for Sunday," explains doctor Marcelo Soares.
Returning to the team, Renato Augusto will automatically have to deal with speculation surrounding his future. After a series of unreliable proposals and some more consistent inquiries, the latest was a hypothetical offer from Benfica. A story that the club's board and the player's agent considered far-fetched and unusual.
"There's nothing about Benfica," asserts businessman Carlos Leite. "They even made up statements from him saying he wanted to go to the Portuguese club. But there's nothing like that."
Fla notifies São Paulo fans not to receive the trophy
The CBF ignores the red-and-black club and states that the trophy will be handed over to the rival at the party on the 3rd.
The CBF confirmed yesterday that São Paulo will receive the Brazilian championship trophy, created in 1971 and which has become the subject of controversy. The São Paulo club, which won its fifth Brazilian title yesterday, will have permanent possession of the trophy. However, Flamengo, winner of the 1987 Copa União, is contesting the award to the São Paulo club.
Yesterday, the club's executives sent an extrajudicial notice to São Paulo, requesting that the São Paulo club refrain from receiving the trophy or send it to Gávea after the ceremony. The CBF recognizes Sport, winners of the Second Division, as the 1987 Brazilian champions. The Copa União was created by the Club of 13, then led by former São Paulo president Carlos Miguel Aidar, following a split between the clubs and the confederation.
When the Brazilian Championship trophy was created, the CBF determined that it would be awarded definitively to the club that won the competition three times in a row or five times in a row. In 1992, Flamengo won what it considers its fifth Brazilian title, but was not entitled to permanent possession. From then on, the CBF kept the trophy in the Caixa Econômica Federal until a club was officially recognized as the five-time champion. The trophy will be awarded to São Paulo on the day of the Brazilian Championship closing ceremony, December 3rd, in Rio.
- The regulations at the time determined this and the CBF will comply - said the entity's press officer, Rodrigo Paiva, according to which there was no official request for the trophy by the club to the CBF.
STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
With six games and six wins, Flamengo is the undisputed leader and the only undefeated team in the State Basketball Championship. Last night, Flamengo defeated Iguaçu 98-74 at the Gávea gymnasium, taking the lead in the competition with 12 points. On Saturday, the team will host Volta Redonda at 15 pm in Gávea.
Sports Journal
Roger's Redemption
After being questioned, supporter puts the club in the Libertadores qualification zone
Nathan de Lima, Tiago da Costa and Thiago Bokel
Nina Lima
Roger scores the winning goal for Flamengo, which leaves the club close to qualifying for the Copa Libertadores.
Despite criticism from the red-and-black fans, midfielder Roger proved last night that he can make a difference when he wants to. The match against Corinthians was still tied 1-1 when, after halftime, coach Joel Santana decided to bring him on for Argentine Maxi.
And that's when the player showed his star power. In the 30th minute, he entered the box, unleashed a powerful shot that left goalkeeper Felipe unable to stop, and secured the comeback for the Gávea team.
"It's a strong emotion to score a goal in a packed Maracanã. But we respect Corinthians a lot, and it was a very important victory in our fight to reach the Libertadores," said the supporter, still on the pitch.
The triumph left fans and players ecstatic. For the first time this year, the Rubro-Negro team is among the top four in the Brazilian Championship, securing a spot in the 2008 Copa Libertadores. Besides doing its homework well, the team from Gávea also benefited from Grêmio's loss to Atlético-PR at the Arena da Baixada.
After missing a fantastic chance that could have cost him dearly, midfielder Cristhian praised the team for their performance. "We showed where we want to go. We're fighting for this Libertadores spot, and based on what we've been showing, we deserve it, so congratulations to the team."
Coach Joel Santana also decided to give his opinion at the end of the game and does not believe that Corinthians will be in Serie B next year.
"It was one of the most difficult games since I arrived at Flamengo and, based on what they showed, it's unlikely they'll be relegated," analyzed the coach, who has now gained an additional headache.
Striker Souza is suspended for the match against Cruzeiro after receiving his third yellow card. Obina, who replaced the number 9 after halftime, is expected to be his replacement.
Íbson is the new daddy of Gávea
Supporter Íbson shows off the tattoo on his right arm in honor of his newborn son, Íbson Jr.
Supporter Ibson got an extra boost for the Corinthians game. Late Tuesday night, his first son, Ibson Júnior, was born. The baby's mother, Cinthia, informed the player, who was at the hotel where the team was staying, that her water had broken and that the birth of her son was only a matter of hours.
Overwhelmed with emotion, the number 7 left the training camp in a hurry, only returning in the morning. Ibson Júnior was born at 23:30 p.m., measuring 52 cm and weighing 3,150 kg. Ibson even had his son's name tattooed on his arm before he was even born.
Fla notifies Sao Paulo
The saga of who will win the fifth Brazilian championship title gained another chapter yesterday. According to Flamengo's lawyer, Michel Assef Filho, the club notified São Paulo to forfeit the trophy.
The red-black board claimed that at the time the Copa União competition formula was defined, the São Paulo Tricolor was part of the Club of 13, and supported Fla's decision not to participate in the final against Sport, as the Pernambuco club was not part of the green module, that is, the first division clubs.
Furthermore, Michel Assef said that Flamengo has not yet been notified about the can thrown onto the field during the victory over Grêmio. The trial date for the cup thrown during the derby against Vasco has been set: November 8th.
Fla wins in a comeback and sleeps in the G4
Daniel Gonçalves dgoncalves@jsports.com.br
Nina Lima
Roger scores the goal: the comeback temporarily secured Fla in the G4
"Let's become Mengo!" chanted the fans, who, debuting their new jerseys on Wednesday night, cheered the red-and-blacks to a 2-1 victory at a 70.000-capacity Maracanã stadium against a desperate Corinthians. Besides pushing their rivals ever closer to the abyss, the result temporarily placed the team in the top four of the Brazilian league. Temporarily, because Cruzeiro and Palmeiras still play tomorrow and could overtake Flamengo if one of them wins.
In a first half that started very tight, with strong marking, the game only became more exciting after the halfway point with Corinthians' goal, scored by Finazzi in the 26th minute, capitalizing on an excellent individual play by Lulinha on the left side of Flamengo's defense. The youngster hit a cross, Bruno laid it off, and the ball fell to the Corinthians center forward to tap in.
Before that, the red-and-blacks had only had one clear chance to score, with Maxi Biancucchi capitalizing on a corner kick taken by Juan. The ball was deflected by Fábio Luciano and split high between Souza and Betão. On the rebound, Maxi adjusted and tried to find Felipe's corner, but to no avail. The shot went wide.
After conceding the goal, Flamengo felt the blow. The fans lost their enthusiasm, and with it, the Gávea team's initiative, which witnessed a series of missed opportunities by Corinthians. In one of them, after a gift from Juan, the ball was passed to Dentinho, who, taking advantage of Toró's mistake, entered the box and, one-on-one with Bruno, sent an unforgivable shot wide.
Flamengo continued to lack creativity, and there was an explanation for that: Ibson, the new father of the night, was struggling under Carlos Alberto's intense man-marking. Ironically, the São Paulo midfielder was injured, and that's exactly when Flamengo found its goal, late in the first half. Maxi passed the ball to Souza inside the box. The center forward backheeled it, and Ibson, free from the penalty spot, equalized. As promised, he celebrated by paying tribute to his son, Ibson Junior, in true Bebeto style.
At the start of the second half, Joel Santana brought on Obina and Roger. The team lost pace but gained technique. In the first minute, Juan missed a stunning goal, shooting straight at Felipe when he was free, one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Cristian, in the 28th minute, failed to capitalize on Obina's brilliant play and sent the ball over the crossbar.
Corinthians abandoned its attack in the second half, inviting Flamengo to their own half. And due to a mistake in Flamengo's playoff run, Roger stole the ball on the right wing, took on the entire team, and scored a stunning goal. It was the turnaround for the team from Gávea, which now shines among the top four in the Brazilian Championship. From then on, it was all about managing the score and holding off the pressure from Corinthians, who lacked the strength to equalize. Game over. Flamengo win, and the Libertadores is just around the corner.
Turnaround towards the Libertadores
Rubro-Negro starts at a disadvantage, but shows grit, beats Timão and finally enters the G4
Nathan de Lima and Thiago Bokel
Nina Lima
Ibson pays tribute to his son, born on Tuesday, with Fla's first goal
Flamengo fans wake up today with a clean soul. After so much suffering, after being the laughingstock of Rio, behold, like a giant awakened at just the right moment, Flamengo reached the Libertadores Cup zone for the first time after beating Corinthians 2-1 yesterday at Maracanã. Finazzi opened the scoring, but Ibson and Roger scored the goals that lifted Flamengo to fourth place in the Brazilian Championship standings.
Careless and thinking they could decide the score at any moment, coach Joel Santana's team started the match poorly. And the punishment for their inefficiency came in the 26th minute, when Lulinha made a great play and crossed to Finazzi, who was free, to open the scoring. What happened after the goal was inexplicable. Unrecognizable, Flamengo was a mere spectator of Corinthians' superiority. And the situation could have been worse if Bruno Bonfim hadn't missed a great chance when he burst into the box, left Toró in the lurch, and shot wide after Bruno's exit.
Just as the Flamengo fans were hoping for the nightmare of the first half to end, light appeared at the end of the tunnel. In the 46th minute, Maxi passed to Souza, who delivered a beautiful backheel for Ibson to finish with precision and score the goal in honor of his son, born on Tuesday night.
Roger decides\ The goal at the end of the first half gave Flamengo new energy. So much so that, right at the start of the second half, Juan missed an incredible opportunity, one-on-one with Felipe. Cristian, after receiving a beautiful pass from Obina, also missed a good chance. But the agony was close to over. Soon after, in the 30th minute, Roger (who had come on at halftime, along with Obina) made a great play, burst into the box and shot with the anger of someone waiting for the right moment to respond to the criticism he'd faced since arriving at the club.\
The Libertadores is a dream, getting closer with every game. On Sunday, Flamengo faces a direct competitor for the spot, Cruzeiro, at Mineirão.
O Dia
Flamengo: Race, passion and goals
Mengão turns the tables on Corinthians and enters the Libertadores zone. Roger, the hero
Marluci Martins
Rio - Flamengo proved they are a team of grit and passion, as their fans like to say. After falling behind, they turned the game around and beat Corinthians 2-1. With this result, they jumped to 3rd place in the table with 55 points, and are in the Copa Libertadores zone.
For much of the first half, the red-and-black midfield failed to create any chances, and the full-backs weren't performing well in their attacking roles. As a result, the ball wasn't reaching the attack. Corinthians did their part, stopping the game with fouls.
And the punishment for Flamengo's mistakes came in the 26th minute. In a quick and spectacular play, Lulinha performed a "cowboy" dribble past Cristian and passed the ball to Finazzi, who, unmarked, cut in from the left, opening the scoring. The noisy Corinthians fans in the stadium silenced the vast majority of Flamengo fans for several minutes.
At a disadvantage, Flamengo suffered a breakdown, and things got worse. In the 37th minute, Dentinho beat Toró, who even tried to stop him with a foul, and narrowly avoided increasing Corinthians' lead.
After much suffering, Flamengo fans finally had reason to smile. In stoppage time, Maxi passed to Souza, who back-heeled the ball to Íbson (pictured) who slotted it into Felipe's net. Íbson, the team's top scorer with six goals, celebrated with the traditional "rock-the-baby" gesture in honor of his son, who was born yesterday.
In the first minute of the second half, Juan missed a clear goal, shooting straight at the goalkeeper. In the 23rd minute, Cristian received the ball from Obina and wasted an excellent scoring chance that seemed imminent. In the 28th minute, Léo Moura unleashed a beautiful shot, but Felipe made an incredible save.
After a one-two with Juan, Roger controlled the ball and fired a cannonball into the middle of the goal, from a near-angle shot, scoring the winning goal in the 30th minute. In the end, after a scuffle in the box, Timão nearly scored. Souza and Toró received yellow cards and are out of the game against Cruzeiro on Sunday at Mineirão Stadium.
To my son, with all my love
Íbson celebrated with a baby cradle and thanked the club's board, which allowed him to leave the training camp overnight to attend the birth of his son, Íbson Junior, who was born yesterday morning. The player was in bed when his wife, Cínthia, called. "She told me my water had broken, and I rushed to the hospital. I was worried, but everything went well."
Íbson returned to Flamengo's training camp at 10 a.m. to rest for the evening's game. Away from his first son, he had to settle for the tribute he had made to Júnior: a tattoo on his right arm with his son's name. That night, he was able to pay another tribute, dedicating the equalizing goal to the boy.
Midfielder Renato Augusto, who missed Flamengo's match yesterday, is expected to return to the team on Sunday against Cruzeiro at Mineirão Stadium. He has a gluteal problem. "Renato Augusto will be back in the next round," said Joel Santana.
National Festival
If it depends on the huge and passionate Flamengo fan base, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil promises to be a success proportional to their enthusiasm. Yesterday, at the packed Maracanã stadium, the fans had a wonderful party. Some wore the national team jersey in a kind of rehearsal for the World Cup celebration.
In the black-and-red stands, entire families were already expressing their excitement about being part of Brazilian football history. Five-year-old twins Breno and Bruno did the math: they'll be 12 years old and have more understanding to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"We even started talking to our school friends, most of whom are Flamengo fans, about forming a Fla-Brasil fan club. Our parents promised we'd all go to some World Cup game," Breno said, as his brother nodded in approval.
The folkloric Lyon das Embaixadinhas, who was hired to liven up the Beach Soccer World Cup, which begins tomorrow on Copacabana Beach, dreams of also participating in the 2014 World Cup. "I won't have the money for a ticket. I have to find a way to get into this party," he plans.
As always, entry to the stadium was a major problem. The game had already started, while hundreds of Flamengo fans were still trying to enter Maracanã. Trouble soon ensued: police officers beat fans as they tried to enter at all costs. Many complained about the police's brutality.
Sports Gazette
Satisfied with the victory, Joel wants nine more points
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - With a 2-1 victory over Corinthians, Flamengo provisionally moved into third place, and if Palmeiras and Cruzeiro stumble, they could remain in that position. Even so, Flamengo coach Joel Santana avoided commenting on his opponents in the fight for a Copa Libertadores spot, focusing instead on the Rubro-Negro's path to the end of the Brazilian Championship. This Thursday, the São Paulo team faces Juventude, while the Minas Gerais team visits Botafogo. "We already have 55 points. Regardless of the other teams' results, it's important to try to reach 64 points. To do that, we need three wins, two at home and one away," stated the Flamengo coach.
Next Sunday, the Gávea team faces Cruzeiro. After that, Flamengo hosts Santos in another crucial matchup for the top spots. In the penultimate round, Flamengo faces Atlético Paranaense at Maracanã, and on December 2nd, they conclude their campaign against Náutico at Ilha do Retiro.
The Rio de Janeiro team's response, which remained in the relegation zone for most of the first half of the season and is now in the top four, is a source of pride for Joel Santana. "We're looking from the top down in the standings, not the other way around. We're proud to be in this prestigious position for the club and its fans," he stated.
Despite the excitement surrounding their spot in the top four, the coach wants his players to remain focused for the remainder of the Brasileirão to avoid a drop in performance. "We got a result against a great opponent. But now we have to focus on moving forward," he concluded.
Flamengo beats Timão in a comeback and reaches the Libertadores area
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - In a clash between Brazil's most popular clubs, Flamengo was the one celebrating on Wednesday night, reaching the Copa Libertadores qualifying zone with a 2-1 comeback victory over Corinthians. Corinthians, dreaming of leaving the relegation zone after seven rounds, couldn't hold on to the result at the Maracanã stadium, where the red-and-black fans celebrated once again. Corinthians relied on speed throughout the match, opening the scoring with Finazzi precisely after a good counterattack led by Lulinha. However, in the final minutes of the first half, Ibson equalized. In the second half, former Corinthians player Roger entered the field to score the winning goal for Flamengo.
With Goiás losing to Vasco on Wednesday, Timão needed only a draw to escape the relegation zone, but they couldn't find the net against Flamengo again. Thus, Nelsinho Baptista's team remains with 41 points in the National Championship, the same number as Goiás, which has the advantage in the tiebreaker criteria.
Flamengo, meanwhile, has reached the Copa Libertadores qualifying zone with 55 points, in third place. In the remainder of the round, to maintain its position, Flamengo must root for Palmeiras, who also have 55 points and face Juventude, to lose. Another direct competitor for Joel Santana's team is Cruzeiro, who have 54 points and play Botafogo this Thursday.
Corinthians will be looking to bounce back in the Brasileirão on Sunday when they face Atlético-PR at Pacaembu Stadium. The Rio de Janeiro club, in turn, faces Cruzeiro at Mineirão Stadium on the same day.
The game
Encouraged by the crowd that turned out in large numbers at Maracanã, Flamengo started Wednesday's match with more attacking play, but without creating any real chances for Felipe's goal. Flamengo lacked efficiency in passing, seeking lofted balls into the box.
On one of the crosses, the ball fell to Maxi after a rebound. The Argentine sent it very close to Felipe's goal, scaring the Corinthians goalkeeper. On the other side, Corinthians placed their hopes on expected plays, such as the speed of Lulinha and Dentinho, as well as the crosses to Finazzi.
The moves by both clubs made things easier for the defenses. Goalkeeper Felipe even intercepted several Flamengo crosses. And it was on a counterattack that Corinthians opened the scoring at Maracanã. In the 26th minute, Lulinha made an excellent individual run down the right and sent the ball into the box. The ball sailed past everyone and fell to Finazzi, who finished into the net.
After the goal, Corinthians showed more courage to push forward, while Flamengo continued to struggle against the black and white defense. In another Corinthians counterattack, Dentinho beat Toró in the box and found himself free in front of Bruno, but shot wide, wasting a great chance.
Flamengo, on the other side, didn't waste the opportunity that arose. In the 45th minute, Maxi passed the ball to Souza in the box, in space behind the defense. The forward then back-heeled it to Ibson, who finished without giving Felipe a chance.
Dissatisfied with Flamengo's performance in the first half, Joel Santana made two changes to the team, taking off Souza and Maxi for Obina and Roger. Incidentally, in the first minute of play, Juan appeared unmarked in front of goal, but shot straight at Felipe, wasting a good chance.
Shortly after, Ronaldo Angelim felt unwell and had to leave the field, allowing Rodrigo Arroz to come on. Flamengo continued to have a stronger presence up front, but failed to create any significant chances. Nelsinho Baptista made two changes in a matter of minutes for Corinthians, making it clear that he would continue to rely on speed.
First, Dentinho left the field to make way for Arce. Since the change didn't change the overall game, the coach also took off Lulinha and brought on Héverton. However, Flamengo nearly turned the game around moments later. Leonardo Moura took a great shot, but Felipe stretched to save.
And Flamengo capitalized on its best moment of the game to turn the score around. Former Corinthians player Roger made a fine individual play, burst into the box, and struck to score his first goal for the Red-Blacks. Joy for the Rio de Janeiro fans and sadness for the São Paulo fans.
PeléNet
Flamengo wins, enters the G-4 and leaves Corinthians in the relegation zone
From UOL Esporte\ In São Paulo\
In a classic of opposites, Flamengo secured their fifth consecutive victory in the Brasileirão and promotion for the first time to the G-4, a group with the top four teams that guarantee a spot in the 2008 Copa Libertadores, by beating Corinthians 2-1 on Wednesday night at Maracanã Stadium. Meanwhile, the São Paulo team is languishing in the relegation zone for the eighth consecutive round in Serie B.
Benefiting from Grêmio's loss to Atlético-PR and the fact that Cruzeiro and Palmeiras only play on Thursday, when the 34th round of the Nacional will be completed, Flamengo moved into third place in the Brasileirão, now with 55 points. Corinthians, which could have escaped its uncomfortable situation with at least a draw - Goiás was defeated by Vasco at home - remains in 17th place, with 41 points.
Unrestricted on the field, despite playing against the pressure of over 60 Flamengo fans, Corinthians prevailed and took the lead in the 26th minute. In a fine play by Lulinha on the right, the 17-year-old left Ronaldo Angelim behind and fired a cross-shot. Goalkeeper Bruno partially cleared the ball, but hero Finazzi, scorer of both goals in the victory over Figueirense, finished into the net. Doubtful for the match due to a right foot injury, the number 9 scored his 11th goal in the National Championship.
Keen to extend their lead and secure a more comfortable position for the second half, the Parque São Jorge club still had two good chances to score a second goal. In the first, referee Leonardo Gaciba failed to award a penalty by Fábio Luciano on Lulinha. Then it was Dentinho's turn to torment the Flamengo defense. The midfielder outpaced Toró and missed badly, shooting wide when facing Bruno.
But the round was perfect for Flamengo to move even closer to the Libertadores zone, and the equalizer came in stoppage time. In a beautiful triangle, Argentine Maxi Biancucchi found Souza in the box. The forward backheeled it, leaving Ibson in a perfect position to score.
"Last night, around 21:40 p.m., my wife called me saying that her water had broken. I spoke with Professor Joel and was released to attend the birth in the morning. In the afternoon, I was already focused on resting and playing. I dedicate this goal to my son," commented the midfielder from the Gávea team.
Both teams' performances dropped dramatically in the second half. But Flamengo wasn't about to surrender its four-game unbeaten streak and turned the game around thanks to a former Corinthians player. Roger, who had replaced Max after halftime, got past Iran and fired a powerful shot to turn the game around and score a beautiful goal.
Corinthians continued to rely on the young duo of Dentinho and Lulinha. However, both were substituted, and the São Paulo team created little for the rest of the game.
Flamengo's quest to secure qualification for the Copa Libertadores and Corinthians' fight to avoid relegation continues on Sunday. At 16 p.m. at Mineirão Stadium, the Rio de Janeiro club faces Cruzeiro, its direct rival in the fight for the South American tournament. Corinthians hosts Atlético-PR at Pacaembu Stadium at 17 p.m.
Joel calls for calm after Flamengo enters the Libertadores zone
From UOL Esporte\ In São Paulo\
After taking Flamengo out of an uncomfortable situation in the Brazilian Championship - the Rio de Janeiro team spent more than half of the first half and two rounds of the second half in the relegation zone -, coach Joel Santana asked the fans to remain calm as the club is in the G-4 for the first time, a group that includes the top four teams in the National Championship and guarantees qualification for the 2008 Copa Libertadores.
"We need to be calm and patient at this moment, nothing has been decided yet. But it's important to know that things depend solely on us, we have to do our part [to qualify for the continental tournament]," said Joel after the 2-1 victory over Corinthians.
With an eye on the spot, the Gávea team commander has already done the math and, according to him, they need to win nine points out of the 12 that will still be disputed in the final four rounds of the Brasileirão - the team has 55 and is in third place in the table, but could be overtaken by Palmeiras and Cruzeiro this Thursday.
"I saw a newspaper that says you need 63 or 64 points to qualify for the Libertadores. And that's the math I'm sticking with," said the coach, who expressed relief at the team's improvement in recent matches—they've won five consecutive matches. "It's good to look at the table from this position; it's very different now. Before, we looked from the bottom up, but now we're looking the other way around. This makes the team and the fans proud. We're achieving something prestigious, which is making us happy," he commented.
Flamengo coach praises reserves and says that "Roger was a dancer"
From UOL Esporte\ In São Paulo\
Always with controversial and effective phrases, coach Joel Santana credited a good part of the victory over Corinthians (2-1) to the reserve players, especially midfielder Roger, who scored the winning goal for the red-blacks at the Maracanã stadium.
"We have to understand that football isn't just about 11 players. At Gávea, we don't call them substitutes, but rather players who come on [in the match] to solve problems. And it was no different today. Rodrigo Arroz [a defender who replaced Ronaldo Angelim, who left the field due to illness] played on the left. The three changes were good in the game," said Joel, also remembering the introductions of Roger and Obina.
But the manager's praise was focused on Roger. "He has undeniable talent, he came into the game very well and delivered. I thought he'd be more closely monitored in midfield, but that wasn't the case. Roger performed like a dancer," Joel joked. He revealed that he hadn't intended to bring on the former Corinthians player early in the second half in place of Argentine Maxi Biancucchi.
"When we were in the locker room, I decided to bring on Obina for Max. But then Souza said he had hamstring pain, something that's been bothering him for a while. So he said he couldn't play anymore, and I brought on Roger," he said. "Roger knew how to pace the game, providing better passing and holding the ball better, preventing them from counterattacking with those two young guys up front," said the Flamengo coach, referring to Corinthians' Lulinha and Dentinho.
Despite the victory, Joel said Flamengo wasn't at its best. "In the first half, we misplaced a lot of passes and played poorly. We barely had any shots on goal. We sped up the game and knew it wouldn't lead to anything. But in the second half, things changed, and we had the upper hand. We knew we wouldn't miss 10 or 15 chances in such a close game; eventually, the ball would go in. Of these last few games, this was the hardest-fought victory we've had."
BalloonSport
Fla beats Timão and enters the G-4
Rubro-Negro hopes Cruzeiro, who plays this Thursday, will stumble to look good.
Marcio Iannacca
Flamengo will sleep in the Libertadores qualifying zone and needs to defeat Cruzeiro and Palmeiras, who play Botafogo and Juventude, respectively, this Thursday, to stay in contention. The dramatic 2-1 victory over Corinthians on Wednesday night at Maracanã put the red-and-black team among the top four in the Brazilian Championship. Furthermore, the Rio de Janeiro team secured their fifth consecutive victory, a feat not achieved since 1982. On the other hand, the São Paulo team remains in dire straits and very close to Serie B.
With the result, Flamengo reached 55 points and occupies third place in the competition. Corinthians remains with 41 points and remains in the relegation zone, benefiting from Goiás' loss. In the next round, the Red-Blacks will face Cruzeiro at Mineirão Stadium. Corinthians faces Atlético-PR at Pacaembu Stadium. Both matches will be on Sunday.
Timão takes the lead. Flamengo equalizes at 45
In the first half, Flamengo struggled to find its feet, misplacing numerous passes and, at times, appearing somewhat careless. Corinthians, on the other hand, attacked desperately. The Red-Blacks' mistakes angered the fans, who booed the Argentine Maxi, who was playing poorly.
Roger came on well and scored a beautiful goal
It was a passing error that gave Corinthians the lead. Lulinha made a beautiful play and crossed into the box. Finazzi capitalized on the defenders' blunder and opened the scoring in the 26th minute. With the goal, Flamengo's fans became impatient, and the São Paulo fans began to resort to counterattacks. In the 37th minute, Bruno Bonfim capitalized on a through ball, dribbled past Toró, and shot wide, straight at goalkeeper Bruno.
Flamengo capitalized on Corinthians' mistakes and found the net in the 45th minute. Maxi battled with the ball and the Corinthians defense, eventually passing to Souza. The forward backheeled the ball to Ibson, who shot to the right of goalkeeper Felipe. In celebration, the number 7 paid tribute to his son, Ibson Júnior, who was born last Tuesday.
Roger is disenchanted with the Fla shirt
The Rio de Janeiro team returned for the second half with two changes. Joel took off Souza, who is suspended for the next game after receiving his third yellow card, and Maxi, opting for Obina and Roger. The São Paulo team continued with only the first-half change, when Bruno Octávio came on for Carlos Alberto. And just one minute in, Juan, facing Felipe, missed the game-winning chance.
Corinthians forgot to attack and began waiting for Flamengo. The São Paulo team overindulged in fouls, allowing the Rio de Janeiro team to grow into the game. In the 28th minute, Leo Moura unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, forcing Felipe to make a fine save. Two minutes later, Roger made a brilliant play and broke the deadlock in a Flamengo jersey: 2-1 and a celebration in the Maracanã stands.
Ibson offers a goal to his son Júnior
A player scores for Flamengo and celebrates with the traditional 'embala neém' (baby rocking song)
Eduardo Peixoto
Ibson Júnior received the promised tribute. This Wednesday, on his first day of life, the Flamengo fan's son received a goal as a gift.
In the 45th minute of the first half, Ibson received a backheel pass from Souza and fired a low shot into Felipe's right corner (watch the goal and celebration video below). During the celebration, he joined Cristian in the traditional "embala neém" (baby-cradle) celebration, created by Bebeto at the 1994 World Cup.
"I thank God for the goal, I thank the board for letting me play when my wife called me, and I'm happy to have scored this goal. It's for my son," says the father of the day.
The Flamengo player's first child was born this morning. He was in the hospital, but was released to attend the birth. Afterward, he returned to his hotel in Barra da Tijuca and, euphoric, predicted a goal in honor of the baby.
Fábio Luciano: 'They are our brothers'
Defender admits he has affection for Corinthians, the club he once played for. Fábio Luciano once again expressed his affection for Corinthians. The defender celebrated the victory that left Flamengo in the Libertadores qualifying zone, but he's hoping the São Paulo team can escape their current predicament (watch highlights from the game in the video below).
"They're my brothers, but we had to win. We had to do our job, respect this jersey. This victory was important for the fight for the Libertadores. But I'll root for Corinthians to get out of this situation."
Roger: 'The goal is priceless'
Excited to score and decide the game, midfielder thanks the Flamengo group for their support
Marcio Iannacca
Roger celebrates his first goal with the Flamengo shirt
Just hours after referee Leonardo Gaciba blew the final whistle, midfielder Roger, the hero of last Wednesday's 2-1 victory over Corinthians at Maracanã, answered GLOBOESPORTE.COM for a quick phone chat. Over dinner with his family, the Flamengo player spoke about the significance of his first goal for Flamengo, the thrill of scoring in front of a packed stadium, and the support he's received from the squad.
GLOBOESPORTE.COM: What did that first goal for Flamengo mean? ROGER: It's priceless. It's great to score a goal like that, in a packed Maracanã. It's a great feeling, but I'm an old man and I don't get carried away with all that euphoria. It was important.
You were emotional after scoring Flamengo's winning goal. What went through your mind at that moment? I was emotional because I really respect Corinthians, a club where I was an idol and made many friends. And also because of the moment, because I scored an important, decisive goal.
You've had two good performances in the last two games. Do you think you've shown that you're fit to play for Flamengo? Look, I don't have to prove anything to anyone. It's a difficult time, and I left the field with a sore leg. I didn't think I was fit to play the full 90 minutes, but I came on due to the circumstances of the match.
How was the group's affection? I know what I can do and I know the physical problems I'm going through. But the best part was the recognition from the group, who have seen my commitment and are seeing my suffering to be in condition to play.
Commemorative shirt provokes Fla
São Paulo's sports equipment supplier launches two models to celebrate the title
Model of São Paulo's commemorative shirt for its fifth Brazilian championship that provokes Flamengo\ With the confirmation of its fifth Brazilian championship this Wednesday, São Paulo has set out to provoke Flamengo, declaring itself the sole holder of the feat. One of the two shirt models made by the São Paulo club's sports equipment supplier to commemorate the national title, called "Penta Code," reads "Penta único" on the back.\
Joel: 'We have to do our part'
Coach says he is moved by the recognition of the red-black fans
Marcio Iannacca
Coach Joel Santana arrived at Flamengo with the team fighting to escape the relegation zone in the Brazilian Championship. Now, after 22 games, the coach has managed to put the team in third place in the competition, with a good chance of securing a spot in the 2008 Copa Libertadores.
Moved by Flamengo's situation, Joel spoke out.
"I'm proud to see a fan banner in the stands praising a job well done. Normally, the coach is mocked and insulted. Being remembered by the fans, receiving affection in the streets, is a great joy. I'm touched by it. I'm very happy," says the coach.
The coach took stock of the last six months of his career.
"This is football life. I had three very bad months, and now I'm having three wonderful months. I hope the team continues this way because putting Flamengo in an international competition would be wonderful. This team would be where it deserves to be," says the coach.
Joel: 'Roger played like a dancer'
Coach says he didn't expect to see the red-black midfielder play with so much freedom
Marcio Iannacca
Coach Joel Santana said he was surprised by midfielder Roger's strong performance this Wednesday at Maracanã. According to the coach, he has improved with each match and has been an important asset to the red-and-black team (watch Roger's stunning goal).
"I thought he would get a tougher ruling. Roger acted like a dancer," says Joel Santana.
The coach assessed Flamengo's match as average due to the different times.
"In the first half, our team was very poor. In the second half, we were good. In the first half, our team was different from what we had been showing. The ball wouldn't stay in front," says the coach.
Ibson tells his saga
The red-and-black midfielder reveals that he didn't sleep to be with his newborn son.
Marcio Iannacca
Ibson's tattoo honoring his son Ibson Júnior, recently born in Rio
Midfielder Ibson had a turbulent night on the eve of Wednesday's match against Corinthians at Maracanã. He didn't even sleep in the training camp due to the birth of his son, Ibson Júnior, and spent the night in a clinic in São Gonçalo. Flamengo's number 7 only returned to training camp in the morning.
For the player, the goal was a reward for his determination (watch the video).
"I didn't sleep well. My wife called me around 21:30 p.m. and said her water had broken. I'm grateful to the officials who let me go. Thank God we were able to do our duty," says Ibson.
The midfielder will sleep again at the clinic, as his wife Cínthia won't be released until Thursday. He will report back to the rest of the group in the afternoon.
São Paulo ignores Flamengo's request for the cup
Tricolor says it will not give up the fifth title, as Rubro-Negro wishes
Joanna of Assisi
The São Paulo fans' confidence in the fifth title is so great that they even have a reply. After the CBF stated that the trophy for the first five-time Brazilian championship will likely end up at Morumbi Stadium, Flamengo's board decided to take action, 15 years after their last title. Flamengo sent a notice to São Paulo on Wednesday afternoon, asking them to relinquish the title.
"I think Flamengo waived that right in 1992 because they never pursued the trophy. Why now? If they really had that right, I say it's expired," says São Paulo's soccer superintendent, Marco Aurélio Cunha.
Presidential advisor João Paulo de Jesus Lopes says that the Tricolor board welcomed the request, but that they cannot consider it.
"We won't give up the trophy if the CBF decides it's ours. It's like asking Corinthians to hand over the FIFA trophy to Boca Juniors (ARG). It was such an informal request that it wasn't even signed by president Márcio Braga. We get along very well, but it's impossible to comply with that," the club director replies.
Watch the video with the cup controversy
São Paulo or Flamengo: who deserves to win the five-time champion's trophy?
Fla notifies São Paulo about fifth cup
Rubro-Negro asks that Tricolor give up the trophy or deliver it to Gávea
Flamengo demands that São Paulo relinquish the five-time Brazilian champion's trophy. The controversy surrounding the trophy for the first five-time Brazilian champion appears to be just beginning. After the CBF stated that the trophy is likely to end up in São Paulo's hands at the end of the season, Flamengo decided to take action for what it believes it is entitled to. Considered by the 13 Clubs to be the only five-time national champion, Flamengo notified Tricolor on Wednesday afternoon that it must refrain from receiving the trophy or deliver it to Gávea.
In the document, Flamengo states that it did not decide the 1987 title against Sport, the second division champion, after the decision of the Clube dos 13, then presided over by former São Paulo president Carlos Miguel Aidar. That year, after the clubs split with the CBF, the Copa União was organized. Flamengo defeated Internacional 1-0 and was crowned champion.
"We stopped talking and made a decision. In 1987, São Paulo signed the document guaranteeing the title to Flamengo, in which it stated its position in favor of not deciding the title with Sport. We'll see if they receive the trophy as the only five-time champions. If that happens, we'll take other measures," Flamengo's lawyer, Michel Assef Filho, told the newspaper "Extra."
CBF technical director Virgílio Elísio says São Paulo may receive the trophy at the Brasileirão closing ceremony, but he is analyzing the regulations that award the trophy to the first five-time champion in alternating titles or three-time consecutive champion. Since the documents are old, he only received them this Tuesday. GLOBOESPORTE.COM tried to contact the director to find out if there had been a definitive decision, but was unable to reach him.
Throw
Flamengo's dream becomes a nightmare for Corinthians at Maraca
Rubro-Negro wins and enters the G-4. Meanwhile, Timão continues to struggle against relegation to Serie B.
Hugo Perruso RIO DE JANEIRO
Anyone who still doubted Flamengo's potential for the Copa Libertadores is no longer in doubt. With a 2-1 victory over Corinthians at Maracanã, Flamengo entered the qualifying zone for the South American competition for the first time. Meanwhile, Corinthians continues its struggle against relegation. In a clash between Brazil's two biggest fan bases, the Rio de Janeiro club fared better.
Cheered on by the fans, who once again turned out in force and debuted a large banner with the number 12 jersey (retired in honor of the fans), Flamengo started strong against Corinthians. In the opening minutes, the Red-Blacks dominated the midfield and exerted intense pressure on Corinthians, who seemed nervous and unsure of what to do with the ball. But Joel Santana's team couldn't convert their dominance into clear-cut chances. Even so, the crowd went wild with Atlético-PR's goals against Grêmio and Náutico's against Santos.
While the fans in the stands were putting on a show, the teams on the field were undeterred. Bruno and Felipe were having no trouble until the 26th minute, when Corinthians finally managed to organize an attack. And they opened the scoring. Lulinha led a counterattack, left Cristian in the lurch, and sent a cross-shot. Bruno managed to deflect it, but the ball fell to Finazzi, who only had to tap it into the back of the net. Referee Leonardo Gaciba overlooked Dentinho, who was involved in the play and was offside, and awarded the goal.
Maracanã didn't go silent, but Flamengo still felt the blow. The team was left standing still, and Corinthians only failed to extend their lead due to the incompetence of their attackers. Dentinho, in particular, outplayed the defense, found himself one-on-one with Bruno and missed a clear goal with a clumsy shot. While Corinthians missed their chance, Corinthians didn't.
The fans didn't give up, pushing the team forward once again. And in the 46th minute, the team's excellent play was rewarded. Maxi tried his luck, but the ball fell to Ibson, who passed it to Souza. The striker backheeled the ball, leaving Ibson free to shoot into the corner and equalize before the end of the first half.
The goal gave the red-and-black nation renewed energy for the second half. Flamengo only didn't ignite the stands even more because Juan missed an easy goal in the first minute, shooting straight at Felipe inside the box. Corinthians seemed content with the draw and began playing solely on counterattacks, which were rare.
In a game of attack and defense, Flamengo tried at all costs to score, but Corinthians held on. When Flamengo had its chances, they were met by poor accuracy and good saves from Felipe. First, Cristian entered the box, but lost the angle and shot wide. Then, it was Léo Moura's turn to unleash a bomb, which the Corinthians goalkeeper made a great save. And Corinthians' attack...nothing.
After trying so hard, Flamengo finally managed to deliver a gift to its fans. A beautiful solo play by Roger, who had failed at every attempt up until that point, turned the game around in the 29th minute. It was the supporter's first goal in a red-and-black jersey. The fans went wild and only had a major scare late in the game, when Finazzi saved the ball, denying Héverton a goal. Then, they just had to wait for the final whistle to celebrate.
With the result, Flamengo reached 55 points, surpassing Grêmio, who lost to Atlético-PR and remained at 54, and Cruzeiro (54), who only play this Thursday against Botafogo. Today the fans will sleep in the G-4 of the Brazilian Championship, but tomorrow they will need to continue cheering, but this time for Botafogo.
Corinthians now has 41 points and remains in the relegation zone, tied with Goiás with the same number of points, losing in the number of wins (12 against 10). Now the black and whites have four rounds to escape relegation.
For Joel Santana, victory was deserved
Flamengo improves in the second half and reaches third place
LANCEPRESS!
Despite the team's poor performance, coach Joel Santana considered Flamengo's 2-1 victory over Corinthians this Wednesday at Maracanã to be fair. Joel pointed out the team's mistakes in the first half, but acknowledged the improved performance in the second half.
"In the first half, we saw a careless team that was making a lot of misplaced passes. Things weren't looking good. In the second half, we improved our passing, didn't give them any counterattack opportunities, started controlling the game, and waited for the right moment to decide. The victory was deserved for what we did in the second half," he said in a post-match interview.
With the 34th round of the Brazilian Championship only ending this Thursday, Flamengo must hope for Palmeiras and Cruzeiro to stumble to remain in the Libertadores qualifying zone. The team is currently third in the competition.
Roger gets emotional after his first goal for Fla
However, the supporter did not celebrate out of respect for Corinthians.
The goal in Flamengo's 2-1 victory over Corinthians was special for Roger. Not only because it put the club in the Copa Libertadores zone, but also because it was his first for Flamengo.
The supporter couldn't hide his emotion.
"Just wearing this jersey, which is one of the biggest and most traditional in the world, is a thrill in itself. My goal, of course, goes without saying. A packed Maracanã stadium chanting my name was hair-raising," he said.
Roger didn't celebrate his goal out of respect for Corinthians, where he was Brazilian champion in 2005. The supporter explained why:
– I'm an idol there and I preferred not to celebrate – he said.
Top scorer Ibson celebrates double victory
Midfielder's son was born this Wednesday and the player even scored a goal
LANCEPRESS!
One player in particular had even more reason to celebrate: Ibson. On the same day his first son, Ibson Júnior, was born, the player had another strong performance, even scoring a goal in the 2-1 victory against Corinthians. It's worth noting that with this goal, the midfielder is now Flamengo's top scorer in the Brasileirão, with six goals.
"I was resting at the training camp and my wife called me saying my water had broken. They released me, and I rushed to the hospital. Thank God I was able to watch. I got there worried, but everything turned out fine," said dad Ibson, who celebrated his goal by cradling a baby.
"The Man up there is helping me a lot. I can only thank him. This goal was for my son," he said.