THE GLOBE
A walk to the sole leadership of Group A
Disciplined and efficient, Flamengo thrashes Duque de Caxias 5-1 at Maracanã and, with a 100% record, is two points ahead of Fluminense
IBSON, SCORING TWO GOALS, vie for the ball with Eduardo: the best on the field, the midfielder kept up the pace even when the score was already 5-0
JUAN IS KNOCKED DOWN by Silva in the play that led to the fourth goal
BEFORE THE penalty kick, Souza explains to Bruno that he was going to take it
Perhaps warned by Fluminense's stumble the day before, Flamengo didn't want to give the underdog a chance to stroll around at Maracanã. The team that actually strolled was the red-and-black team, thrashing Duque de Caxias 5-1 last night and taking sole possession of Group A of the Guanabara Cup with nine points, two ahead of the second-placed Tricolor. Marcinho, Ibson (2), Leonardo Moura, and Souza, from the penalty spot, scored Flamengo's goals. Eduardo pulled one back in the final minutes.
"The team was disciplined, serious, and combative the entire time. For the start of the season, it's good," said coach Joel Santana.
Penalty dispute creates unrest
It was a good match for Flamengo fans, enjoying a beer and chatting with friends, given how calmly their team defeated their opponents. After 35 minutes, the score was already 3-0, without putting in much effort. The first goal didn't come until the 20th minute, when Toró crossed into the box. Marcinho headed the ball past the defense, but the ball fell to him, scoring.
Flamengo had luck and the referee's help for the second goal, ten minutes later. In a play that was largely unintentional, the ball landed at the feet of Ibson, who, in an offside position, shot with his outside of the foot. Undeterred by the desire to win, Flamengo continued to press Caxias, which barely reached goalkeeper Bruno's box. In the 35th minute, Jaílton took a free kick from almost the edge of the box, Fernando palmed it into the middle, and Leonardo Moura scored from the rebound. In the 41st minute, the decision to use the full-backs paid off again: Juan was brought down in the box by Silva. Souza managed to create a ruckus by collecting the ball to take the penalty, even though he knew Ibson was the one taking it. Joel made matters worse by heeding the fans' calls and telling Bruno to take it. But Souza persisted and scored.
- The game is almost won - said Marcinho at half-time.
Marcinho's kindness. The game was already won, especially since Caxias had already surrendered. So much so that in the third minute, Leo Moura and Ibson played a passing game in the box, and the midfielder scored Flamengo's fifth goal. Only nine minutes into the second half did Bruno prove he was capable of playing, saving Eduardo's point-blank shot. It only served as a rehearsal for the goal he would later score, Caxias' only goal. The red-and-black team continued to occupy the Caxias half, unceremoniously. In the 12th minute, Jônatas nearly scored a great goal, but the ball hit the outside of the net.
With little else to worry about, Joel began experimenting. He replaced Fábio Luciano with defender Rodrigo, Souza with Obina, and Marcinho with Maxi Biancucci. Flamengo maintained its dominance but lost some of its focus. Caxias, in turn, gained a little more space to score its consolation goal in the 38th minute, thanks to a fine move by Eduardo on the right. Nothing could stop the Flamengo fans from leaving the Maracanã stadium singing confidently.
Flamengo: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Fabio Luciano (Rodrigo), Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Jailton, Jonathan, Ibson and Toro; Marcinho (Maxi) and Souza (Obina). Caxias: Fernando, Eduardo, Alessandro, Daniel (Gustavo) and Alan; Silva, Marcelo Cardoso (Hawk), Renatinho and Djair; Madson and Viola (Adenis). Referee: Wagner Magalhães. Yellow cards: Marcelo, Eduardo, Silva, Djair, Madson, Marcinho, Daniel, Fabio Luciano, Gustavo and Hawk. Revenue: R$262.790,00. Attendance: 19.812 paying spectators.
Joel Santana takes part of the blame
Coach says he made a mistake in telling Bruno to take the penalty for the fourth goal
The controversy surrounding the penalty kick that resulted in Flamengo's fourth goal consumed part of the halftime break in the Flamengo locker room. Coach Joel Santana warned, in a conversation with Souza and Ibson, that the latter had been designated by him as the official penalty taker. He then admitted to the team part of the blame for having exacerbated the problem.
Souza wanted to take the penalty because he was competing for the top scorer spot, even though Joel had appointed Ibson as the taker before the game. While the two argued, Joel contradicted his own initial decision and told Bruno to take it. But Souza wouldn't budge.
"During halftime, I gathered the guys together to solve the problem. Ibson is the kicker, and if he's injured, it's Leonardo Moura. There were no after-effects. If he is, I'll fix it tomorrow (today). When my kids fight, I fix it," said the coach. "It was my mistake. The game was already decided, and Bruno gave me this look... He just stands there, catching the ball. I told him to hit. Now, those who practice, hit. Those who don't practice, don't hit."
Apparently, the issue was resolved after the on-field discomfort. Ibson, who didn't even celebrate the goal at the penalty kick, hugged Souza after scoring Flamengo's fifth goal.
- Now, I want to see you become a goalscorer - Ibson joked with Souza, in the locker room.
At the press conference, he downplayed the problem.
"The important thing is that Souza scored. He was confident. On the field, we don't have to do everything Joel tells us to do. Of course, we have to follow the tactical part, but there's a time for common sense, and Souza is fighting for the top scorer spot," said Ibson.
"When I went up front, it was to tell Souza to take the shot. I want him to be a top scorer. I'll get the balls back there," Bruno added, then commenting on the free kick in the second half. "I'm practicing, but I don't want to get my hopes up. It was just my first free kick."
Joel was full of praise for Flamengo's performance. At halftime, he urged the team "not to make fun of the opponent" and later said he wasn't satisfied with the goals conceded.
- I just don't like this business of conceding a goal every game - he complained.
FLAMENGO
BRUNO: Not at fault for Caxias' goal, he excelled in his excellent ball repositioning. He took a harmless free kick at the end. 7.
LEONARDO MOURA: As usual, a great attacking option on the right. He scored one goal and provided the assist for another. 8.
FÁBIO LUCIANO: Even when the team was already winning 5-0, he played seriously, kicking the ball out. In one of these, he received a silly yellow card. 7. RODRIGO came on to gain rhythm. 5.
RONALDO ANGELIM: He was only surpassed in the move that led to Caxias' goal. He appeared several times in attack on the left. 6.
JUAN: He took advantage of Caxias's small firepower to attack a lot.7.
JAÍLTON: He tried to close the spaces. 6.
JÔNATAS: Discreet in the first half, participated more in the game in the second. 6,5.
IBSON: He was the driving force even when the team slowed down. He always reached the opponent's box and scored two goals. 8,5.
TORO: He was crucial in stealing the ball. He also impressed with his stamina. 8.
MARCINHO: He started well, creating options and scoring the first goal. Little by little, he faded away. 6,5. MAXI BIANCUCCI came on and made a play on the left. 5.
SOUZA: He started the game well, dropping down the wings and escaping the marking in the box. Then he fell. He scored his third goal in three games. 7,5. OBINA came on, fought but did little. 5.
JOEL: Your team was well prepared and played with commitment the whole time. 8.
DUQUE DE CAXIAS
Full-back Eduardo was one of the few who survived.
ARBITRATION
Referee Wagner Magalhães blew his whistle correctly, but he messed up when he sent off a Caxias player who only had a yellow card.
At home, Flamengo crushes Iguaçu
Rubro-negro wins sixth in a row and maintains 100% success rate
Photo caption: DUDA buries another ball in Flamengo's victory over Iguaçu
Tatiana Furtado
In what was essentially a practice match, Flamengo crushed Iguaçu Basquete 122-57 (59-30 in the first half) yesterday in the Men's National Basketball Championship. It was the sixth victory in as many matches for the red-and-black team, which leads the standings with a 100% record. Flamengo's next match will be on February 8th, against Minas, at home.
The score difference of over 60 points doesn't just highlight the technical gulf between the teams. Even during the warm-up, the disparity in investment between the clubs was evident.
Iguaçu plays the 40 minutes with the same formation
While Flamengo had 12 players, Iguaçu only had six players on the court. Due to injuries and player withdrawals, the Baixada team played the four halves (40 minutes) with the same lineup.
At the beginning, Iguaçu still tried to contain the offensive power of the red-black, but fatigue took its toll on the team in the second half of the match.
"That score was surprising to me. I didn't expect to score so many points. It's already difficult to play against them with 12 players, and with five it's even harder," summarized coach Marcos Hygino, who dreams of having a full squad available for the second round. "We have Jonny, Mãozinha, and Alex injured, and three others had to return to São Paulo for family reasons."
Given the opponent's weakness, Flamengo coach Paulo Chupeta took the opportunity to test the entire squad on the court. So much so that the match's top scorer was winger Fernando Alvim, with 24 points. He's normally a reserve.
"More important than the victory was maintaining the rhythm throughout the match. Regardless of the opponent, every player who came on gave their all. I'm very happy to have contributed to winning this game and I hope to contribute even more from now on," commented top scorer Fernando Alvim.
With a week of training ahead, Chupeta aims to maintain its unbeaten record in the championship to gain the advantage of playing at home in the decisive stages.
"We always want the fans to be our sixth man. The more we win, the more people will come," said the coach.
Flamengo: Marcelinho (22), Helio (14), Fred (4), Wagner (2) and Coloneze (9). Igor (3), Fernando Alvim (24), Duda (14), Maicon (7), Colin (2), Marcellus (13) and Alírio (8) came on. Iguaçu: Fabricio (20), Rafinha (12), Douglas (3), Eduardo (9) and César (13).
Another result: Uberlândia 78 x 76 Universe.
Fernando Calazans
Carnival begins
Two walkovers at Maracanã and Engenhão. In the first, Flamengo scored five goals at Duque de Caxias and could have scored more; in the second, Botafogo scored three goals at Americano and could have also scored more. They were encouraging performances, but let's face it: what wonderful opponents they have lined up for Botafogo and Flamengo! What better could the two giants ask for?
Nothing, nothing. Rio de Janeiro's four major clubs will be eternally grateful to the directors who offered them so many opponents of this caliber—or rather, this lack of caliber—so they could please their enthusiastic fans. Note from the standings that even Cabofriense and Madureira, with their losses yesterday, helped Vasco, even without facing them. How wonderful!
The only team that didn't know how to take advantage of the round was Fluminense. What a shame.
Although they won by a more modest margin than Flamengo, it was Botafogo that impressed me the most. With different players, coach Cuca managed to maintain—or even improve—that striking and harmonious style of attacking, with players even on defense, like Ferrero and Túlio, participating. Besides them, Lúcio Flávio, Jorge Henrique, Zé Carlos, and Wellington Paulista actively participated in the team's beautiful black-and-white plays.
Hopefully, Botafogo, finally freeing itself from last year, will reach the end of 2008 in the same beautiful way it started.
Flamengo strolled at Maracanã. Rediscovering his form, Íbson did one better: he paraded at Maracanã. Even better: he evolved on the field like samba schools evolve on the avenue. The schools' avenue is Sapucaí. Íbson's is Duque de Caxias.
Duque de Caxias Avenue is an invitation to Íbson, an invitation to Flamengo, to soccer, to schools, to samba. It was the opening of Carnival 2008, with Flamengo fans celebrating their own Carnival in the stands.
Two goals from Íbson. Others from Marcelinho, Leonardo Moura, and Souza, from a poorly taken penalty. Why didn't Souza let goalkeeper Bruno take the penalty? Bruno crossed the entire Avenida... well, the entire Maracanã field, and, right in front, was blocked by Souza. Who is Flamengo's penalty taker, Joel?
That was the only question mark left from yesterday's game. Otherwise, the team left no room for doubt.
SPORTS JOURNAL
In the juniors, everything is the same
Flamengo's youth team disappointed fans who arrived early at Maracanã to watch the preliminary match. Despite players like Kayke and Erick Flores, the Gávea youth team drew 1-1 with Duque de Caxias in the Rio de Janeiro State Championship. Striker Paulo Sérgio scored the red-and-black goal.
Flamengo started the match strongly and gradually began to overwhelm the team from Baixada Fluminense. Vander, one of the team's standout players, led the Flamengo attack, which soon opened the scoring with a beautiful goal from Paulo Sérgio.
Then the kids took their foot off the gas and began to be overwhelmed by the Duque de Caxias players. Not even the cheering from the fans and the sending off of the opposing defender for a violent foul on Rafael Mazei prevented the team from the Baixada region from tying the match.
Flamengo fielded Marcelo, Rafael Mazei, Fabricio, Wellinton, and Diogo; Airton, Diego Moura, Erick Flores, and Vander; Kayke (Diguinho) and Paulo Sérgio. The Flamengo youth team's next match is against Macaé on Wednesday.
Marcinho scores his first goal in the red and black shirt
Marcinho takes advantage of the rebound inside the box to score his first goal in a Flamengo shirt
After the game, midfielder Marcinho was ecstatic about the team's performance. In addition to continuing to earn the coach's trust and the fans' affection for his movement and determination on the field, the player scored his first goal for the red-and-black team.
"Nobody forgets their first goal, and thank God I had the opportunity to score it today (yesterday). I'll keep working hard to score more often," he said.
For the player, Flamengo played its best match of 2008 yesterday.
"It's still too early to judge. If you count the other two games we played, I think this was our best performance. But I know we still have a lot to show," he commented.
The elastic score over Duque de Caxias, who had been standing out in this State Championship, surprised Marcinho.
"We showed a lot of respect for our opponent. We knew that Duque de Caxias had an experienced team, with established players. But we played our football, always moving forward," he said.
A midfielder by origin, the player revealed that he doesn't mind being used in attack.
"I want to help in any way, whether as an attacking midfielder or as a striker. I want to show that I have what it takes to be a starter."
Penalty spot controversy
Striker Souza doesn't let Bruno take a penalty and creates discomfort within the groupTiago Costa and
Tiago Costa and Nathan de Lima
Jair Motta
Bruno (L) asks to take the penalty kick, denied by Souza
Even with the brilliant 5-1 thrashing of Duque de Caxias yesterday, the atmosphere in the red-and-black locker room after the match was tense. Some players, such as Ibson and Léo Moura, argued fiercely with striker Souza over the penalty kick that led to the team's fourth goal of the match.
Normally, the player chosen as the official taker is supporter Ibson, but yesterday, due to Flamengo's ease in winning the match, fans called for goalkeeper Bruno to step up to take the kick. Excited, the goalkeeper looked to coach Joel Santana, who authorized the kick. Bruno confidently headed toward the opponent's box, believing he would score his first goal. However, forward Souza had already stepped up to take the kick. After a brief discussion, Souza stepped up to take the kick, unleashing a rocket into the middle of the goal, Flamengo's fourth goal of the match.
Coach Joel Santana arrived at the press conference a little irritated by the situation. But without losing his good humor, he took the opportunity to take the blame for his players' disagreement.
"It was my mistake, but that doesn't mean Flamengo doesn't have leadership. Bruno asked me to take the penalty, and I thought it was a good opportunity for him to show that he can also hit the ball well. Everything is already resolved, and if it's not, it will be. Everyone calls me a dad, but that doesn't mean I'm going to pat them on the head. If my children fight, I'll ground them and take away their allowance," he warned.
Ibson: the character of the game
The red-and-black number 7 plays a fundamental tactical role in Joel's scheme. He marks, organizes the team in midfield, and even gets forward to finish and supply the attackers. In yesterday's match, Ibson, who many already consider worthy of a Dunga call-up, did all this and more. The tireless defender provided beautiful passes and scored two goals in the red-and-black rout.
In the 29th minute of the first half, after Marcinho opened the scoring, Souza competed with the Duque de Caxias defense, and the ball fell to Ibson, who shot with his outside of the foot, with great skill, and scored the second for Mengão.
In the second half, even with the score at 4-0 for Flamengo, the number 7 returned with the same determination, and after just four minutes, he exchanged passes with Leonardo Moura, and shot to score the fifth goal of the red-black rout.
The fans who went to Maracanã last night left satisfied with the team's performance and especially with Ibson, who was by far the best player on the field.
A rout to pack
In training mode, Fla crushes Duque de Caxias and excites the fans present at Maracanã
Daniel Gonçalves dgoncalves@jsports.com.br
Jair Motta
Alongside Jônatas, Ibson celebrates the first of his two goals for the red-black team
After debuting at the Maracanã against Fluminense with a tough game, Duque de Caxias returned to the stadium this Sunday, but unlike Wednesday, they were easy prey for Flamengo, who thrashed the Tricolor da Baixada 5-1. Highlights included Ibson, who scored twice, and Djair's debut in a Duque jersey. But this one, he'll certainly want to forget.
Flamengo had its first scoring opportunity early in the match. Léo Moura found Souza in the box. The number 9 controlled the ball poorly, and the rebound fell to Juan, who passed it back to the center forward. He shot, but the ball hit the marker's arm. Neither the referee nor the assistant referee saw it, and play continued.
In Duque de Caxias' first opportunity of the match, Viola received a pass inside the box and fired a first-time shot over the bar. Soon after, the Red-Blacks opened the scoring. Toró made a great run down the right and crossed; Marcinho headed poorly, but defender Daniel fumbled. Marcinho himself picked up the rebound and scored from the six-yard box.
Less than 10 minutes later, Flamengo scored their second. After a back-and-forth inside the box, the ball fell to Ibson, who, with three fingers, made no mistake. It was easy, and the third soon followed. Jaílton unleashed a bomb from the edge of the area on a free kick, Fernando swatted it away, and from the rebound, Léo Moura added another.
There was still time for Duque de Caxias to award a penalty and further complicate their situation. Ignoring Joel Santana's recommendation that Bruno be the taker, Souza took the responsibility and did not disappoint. 4-0 to Fla in the first half. A rout for Flamengo on the scoreboard and a rout for Tricolor in the statistics. The Duque de Caxias team finished the first half with six yellow cards.
Less than five minutes into the second half, the situation remained unchanged, and Flamengo had no trouble scoring their fifth. Léo Moura and Ibson exchanged passes inside the box, and the number 7, after a challenge from the defender, added another.
The Tricolor da Baixada had its best chance of the game to reduce the deficit through right-back Eduardo. He received a good pass, Flamengo's defense stopped him to call offside, and he shot, but Bruno made a great save. In response, Marcinho received a pass from Toró, went one-on-one with Fernando, but shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Already with five goals on the scoreboard, Flamengo eased off the gas, and Joel took advantage of the massive lead to give his players some rhythm, including defender Rodrigo, who came back on. Despite suffering a thrashing, Duque de Caxias didn't give up on scoring a consolation goal, and they did. Eduardo battled Ronaldo Angelim in the box and fired a left-footed shot, leaving Bruno with no chance. However, that was all.
Diego Tardelli continues preparing and debuts on February 2nd
Flamengo fans won't be able to watch Diego Tardelli's debut this Sunday against Duque de Caxias. The player isn't yet fit to play, and Flamengo's fitness coach, Ronaldo Torres, says he'll only be cleared to play in the match against América, scheduled for Carnival Saturday—February 2nd—at Engenhão.
"Right now, he's not fit to play ninety, or even forty-five minutes of the game. I'm going to start a kind of preseason with Diego, and next Thursday I'll hand him over to Joel. This is necessary because otherwise, he could have problems down the road," said Flamengo's fitness coach in an interview with "Rádio Brasil."
Flamengo's new record
The team beats Iguaçu and, for the first time, achieves six consecutive victories in the National Basketball Championship
Pedro Ivo Almeida
Wallace Teixeira
Winger Fernando Mineiro steps up to score two more points
In training mode, Flamengo defeated Iguaçu 122-57 yesterday morning in Gávea, in the National Men's Basketball Championship. With the victory, the red-and-black team reached an unprecedented six wins in its first six games, confirming with each round that it is one of the favorites for the Brazilian basketball season's top title, the only trophy the club has yet to win. The standout performer was forward Fernando Mineiro, who topped the scoreboard with 24 points. For Iguaçu, point guard Fabrício was the top scorer with 20 points.
Force
With a strong defense and determined to decide the game early on, the red-black team had no trouble closing the first quarter at 27-13. In the second quarter, coach Paulo Chupeta took advantage of the game's relative ease to give all the players a rhythm.
Even with the bench players coming on, the pace didn't drop, and the Gávea team went into halftime leading 59-30. The game's landscape remained unchanged after the second half. Flamengo continued to dominate, steadily increasing their lead through quick counterattacks and three-pointers from young Marcellus, the team's standout performer during the period.
With the match practically decided, it was up to the red-black team to manage their advantage in the last quarter, and wait for the clock to run out to celebrate another victory in the competition.
Caster
Coach Paulo Chupeta was pleased with the team's performance and especially the fact that he was able to put all the players in to play for a long time.
"I talked to them during the week and explained that they had to decide the game early so we could get the group back into playing form for the rest of the match. We needed to get Fernando, who is returning from injury, playing a reasonable amount of time. That was the most important thing: winning and getting everyone back into playing form," he said.
THE DAY
Fla applies 'chocolate' to Duque de Caxias and takes the lead
Diogo Dantas
Rio - Flamengo showed that it is not taking a walk in 2008. On Sunday afternoon, the red-and-black fans who went to Maracanã were able to see more than an impressive 5-0 victory over Duque de Caxias.
With goals from Marcinho, two from Íbson, who played well again, one from Souza and one from Léo Moura, the red-black team is definitely in the running for the state title.
The low point of the day was midfielder Jônatas' lackluster performance. However, Flamengo's full-backs once again played a key role in the attacking play, especially Juan.
Marcinho is establishing himself on the team with another strong performance. And Souza is living up to his reputation as a killer and dancer. After scoring his third goal in three games, the striker celebrated with his teammates in a funk dance train.
Íbson, who played well again and scored two goals, highlighted the team's unity. "I hope to get closer to each game, physically, and improve. If we could score more goals, we would, but the team showed desire, and the victory was the most important thing."
Joel Santana said the trend is for improvement. "The team played with discipline, was determined, and had desire. The trend is for improvement with each game."
Duque de Caxias didn't come close to the team that nearly took a win from Fluminense in the second round. Without Viola, on an inspired night, the most dangerous play against Flamengo's goal only occurred 10 minutes into the second half.
Leading Group A with nine points and a 100% record, Flamengo faces Macaé next Wednesday at 19:30 p.m. at Maracanã to try to finish the first round in first place. Duque de Caxias plays at home against Cardoso Moreira on the same day.
No chance from start to finish
Flamengo came out swinging. Just six minutes in, Souza received a pass from Léo Moura right in front of goal, but couldn't control it and missed.
In the 20th minute, Flamengo opened the scoring. Marcinho headed in a cross from Toró, but the ball deflected off the defense and bounced back to the striker, who fired a slightly off-balance shot to score his first goal for Flamengo. It was 1-0. In the 29th minute, Jaílton fired a long-range shot that hit Léo Moura inside the box and fell to Íbson, who scored the second.
Duque de Caxias wasn't nearly the same team that nearly beat Fluminense. Partly due to a lack of organization, but the biggest contributing factor was Flamengo's pressure from start to finish in the first half.
In the 35th minute, Jaílton took a free kick from distance, the goalkeeper saved it, and Léo Moura pounced on the rebound to score the third. Before the first half ended, Flamengo had time to be awarded a penalty. After a debate over whether Souza or goalkeeper Bruno would take the shot, the striker took responsibility and converted the penalty. 4-0.
Footprint maintained almost until the end
The second half started poorly, and the scoreboard had to be changed again. Léo Moura and Íbson came in to exchange passes, and the midfielder received the ball inside the six-yard box and finished with a sliding shot. Don't miss the score. 5-0. Íbson was better than Jônatas in the match, erasing his poor performances from earlier in the season.
Bruno's first difficult save came 10 minutes into the second half. Eduardo was one-on-one with the goalkeeper and fired a shot, but Bruno parried it well.
With the result in hand, coach Joel Santana decided to experiment with his players. Rodrigo, Obina, and Maxi came on. Flamengo finally felt relaxed, and Duque de Caxias scored their consolation goal in the 36th minute. Eduardo once again got one-on-one with Bruno, and the goalkeeper couldn't keep it out this time. 5-1.
Joel warns that he will pull the ears of his 'sons' Souza and Íbson because of an argument
Rodrigo Lima
Rio - 'Father' Joel Santana will step in today to pull the ears of his 'sons' Souza and Íbson. Despite the big 5-1 win over Duque de Caxias, the argument between the players during the penalty kick that led to the fourth goal, still in the first half, took the focus away from the beautiful red-and-black performance.
Joel admitted his mistake for not taking the lead in the argument between Souza and Íbson. According to the coach, the problem stemmed from his complicity in letting the fans' enthusiasm take over the match, as they were calling for goalkeeper Bruno to take the penalty.
"It was my mistake. While Íbson was arguing with Souza, Bruno waved to me and asked me to take the ball, since the score was 3-0. I told him to run into the box and didn't even notice that Souza and Íbson were arguing. It was a mistake on my part, which has already been corrected in the locker room, because the one who should have taken the ball was Íbson, since he's the taker, and if he's not there, it's Leonardo Moura. From now on, they'll be the only ones taking the ball," Joel stated.
The coach revealed that he will speak privately with both players. "When two sons fight, a father has to step in. A father isn't just there to pat them on the head, he also punishes them. Whoever's right, I'll applaud; whoever's wrong, they'll be punished," he said.
The coach complained about Flamengo's goal, the second in a row despite their last two routs. "I don't like this. We have to win without conceding a goal."
For the midfielder, case overcome
Supporter Íbson stated that there were no lasting effects from the argument with Souza. Despite the player's warning from captain Fábio Luciano after the altercation and the sour expression on his face when Souza scored the penalty, the player said the issue has been resolved. "Souza wanted to take the penalty, and that's what happened. I only complained because I'm the team's official penalty taker. But the important thing is that he scored the goal and we won," Íbson stated.
Goalkeeper Bruno said he'll train to take penalties and even free kicks. "I'll train for that. I didn't do it today, but who knows, maybe I'll score another day," said the number 1.
Coach Joel Santana is concerned about the proximity of Carnival. "It could distract the players, as we're currently staying at a beachfront hotel," he noted.
Flamengo's board of directors makes plans to eliminate the club's debts in five years
Janir Junior
Rio - Current figures indicate that Flamengo has a debt of R$280 million. These high negative figures don't reflect the financial restructuring the club has been undergoing since 2002. In the last four years, for example, there has been a surplus, meaning revenues exceeded expenditures (not counting debt repayments). In 2004, revenues were R$70 million; last year, they reached R$88 million.
These are just some of the numbers that, along with Timemania, have led the club's finance department directors to launch optimistic projections: in five years, they believe, Flamengo will be debt-free.
Renegotiations with sponsors are already underway. After receiving R$14 million withheld from Petrobras's quotas, the club has yet to sign a new contract. Flamengo is demanding more than the current R$16,2 million per year.
In the case of Nike, which is paying R$9 million, the club also wants a raise. Furthermore, television fees are also being re-discussed. "We're managing past problems, maintaining the present, and looking to the future," says vice president of finance José Carlos Dias.
The club's strategy was to maintain its debts over the past five years and avoid creating new ones. The balance sheet shows that the 860 employees of 2000 have been reduced to 550 today; all labor liabilities have been paid off; and the equity, which was negative at R$137 million, is now positive.
The club has opened the sale of 1.500 membership cards, priced at R$8 each. The expectation is that the value will triple within five years.
Salaries are up to date, despite some unusual past debts. For example, former full-back Jorginho, currently Dunga's assistant with the national team, recently received R$850 from a debt incurred in 1989.
The club is also celebrating R$20,5 million in ticket sales in 2007. But the finance department continues to work hard... and reduce debt.
SPORTS GAZETTE
Ibson shines and Flamengo crushes Duque de Caxias\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Flamengo took sole leadership of Group A of the Campeonato Carioca after thrashing Duque de Caxias 5-1 in a match played on Sunday night at Maracanã, in the third round of the competition.\ The result left the team managed by Joel Santana with nine points, two more than second-place Fluminense, while the team from Baixada Fluminense remains in fifth place in the same group, with just three points.\
The match marked the return of midfielder Jônatas to Flamengo, after a lackluster spell at Espanyol Barcelona. The player performed well, as did the entire Flamengo team, which faced no challengers. Joel Santana's team was so comfortable that by the end of the first half, Flamengo was already leading 4-0.
The team from Baixada Fluminense struggled to contain their opponents and complained heavily about the refereeing by Wagner Magalhães, who issued eight yellow cards to his team. In the next round, Flamengo will face Macaé, and Duque de Caxias will host Cardoso de Morais in Baixada Fluminense.
Flamengo started the match determined to give their opponent no chance to gain motivation. With the support of full-backs Leonardo Moura and Juan, Joel Santana's team suffocated their opponents, who only managed to reach the opposing box in the 12th minute, when Viola shot wide without scaring goalkeeper Bruno.
Despite intense pressure, Flamengo only managed to score its first goal in the 20th minute, thanks to a play by Marcinho, who beat the defender to Toró's cross and slotted it into the net. Flamengo's dominance increased, and in the 29th minute, midfielder Ibson received the ball from Léo Moura and fired home from inside the six-yard box, leaving goalkeeper Fernando with no chance.
Without the strength to react, Duque de Caxias barely managed to get past midfield, and Viola, isolated, barely got the ball. In the 35th minute, the third goal came. Jailton took a powerful free kick from outside the box, goalkeeper Fernando cleared it, and Leonardo Moura finished with a powerful shot.
In the 44th minute, the referee awarded a penalty on Juan in a play hotly contested by the Duque de Caxias players, which resulted in numerous yellow cards and a red card for Daniel. However, the referee got confused, apologized to Daniel, and only issued the yellow card. Souza fired a high shot into the middle of the goal, making the first-half score 4-0.
Flamengo returned for the second half with the same initial disposition and, just four minutes in, Íbson played a one-two with Leonardo Moura to score the fifth goal, ending any desire for a comeback on the part of Duque de Caxias.
Even so, in the 12th minute, full-back Eduardo forced goalkeeper Bruno into his toughest save to date. The pace of the match dropped, and coach Joel Santana decided to make every substitution he could to observe some players.
At Duque de Caxias, Viola also came out and hugged Joel Santana before heading down to the locker room. In the 34th minute, Argentine Maxi made a great run down the left, but his shot was weak, allowing Fernando to save. Three minutes later, Duque de Caxias scored their goal after a fine play by Eduardo, the team's best player.
The advantage on the scoreboard even allowed goalkeeper Bruno to risk a free kick at the edge of the Duque de Caxias area, but the goalkeeper played the ball well away from Fernando's goal in the last dangerous play of the match.
PELENET
Flamengo runs over Duque de Caxias at Maracanã
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Flamengo ignored Duque de Caxias and crushed the Baixada Fluminense team on Sunday night at Maracanã. The 5-1 scoreline was a good reflection of the match, which was part of the third round of Group A of the Guanabara Cup, the first round of the State Championship. Marcinho, Ibson (twice), Leonardo Moura, and Souza (penalty) secured the rout, and Eduardo pulled one back.
FLA PLAYS WELL AND WINS A THROW
With the result, the team from Gávea reached nine points and took sole leadership of the group, leaving rival Fluminense, with seven, in second place. The Caxienses, with three points, dropped to fifth place.
Both teams return to action on Wednesday. Duque de Caxias faces Cardoso Moreira at 16 p.m. (Brasília time) in Xerém, and Rubro-Negro hosts Macaé at 19:30 p.m. at Maracanã.
Fla asserts its superiority and starts off with a bang
Unlike the first few games of the year, Flamengo started the match with a full-throttle attack, which frightened their opponents. Cornered, Duque de Caxias could only breathe by kicking the ball.
Well-organized, the Rubro-Negro created good chances and, as usual, had their best weapons on both flanks. In the 20th minute, the pressure paid off. Toró crossed, the defense failed, and Marcinho opened the scoring. Nine minutes later, Ibson, in a dubious position, extended the lead.
With the second goal, the fans and the team became even more excited. The pressure remained intense and constant, until, in the 36th minute, Jaílton took a powerful free kick from the edge of the box, but goalkeeper Fernando couldn't keep it out. Leonardo Moura scored from the rebound.
With a solid lead, Flamengo began to pace the game and exploit its impressive passing. But all it took was Ibson's mistimed backheel pass for coach Joel Santana to go crazy, reigniting his players' momentum.
In the 43rd minute, Juan burst into the box and was brought down by Silva. The fans called for goalkeeper Bruno to take the shot, but Souza beat his chest and said, "That's mine." Then, the number 9 carefully adjusted the ball and beat the goalkeeper. 4-0.
"We're playing well. We just have to keep it up and it'll be fine. The game is almost won," said midfielder Marcinho at halftime.
For the visitors, there was hope for a less disastrous second half. "That's how it is with playing against a big team. You have to be alert every second. If you slack off, you'll lose control. Let's see if we can improve on that in the second half," said the experienced Viola.
Slightly smaller domain, but no scares
At the start of the second half, there was nothing new. Duque de Caxias' reaction remained largely a matter of words, and it was the home side who continued to "rule the day." In the fourth minute, Ibson and Leonardo Moura exchanged passes with ease inside the opponent's box. In the end, the midfielder received the ball unmarked and tapped it into the goal.
From then on, the spectacle lost some of its luster. Satisfied with the impressive score, the red-and-black players became less aggressive. But they still maintained complete dominance.
Caxias, for its part, seemed to be just waiting for the final whistle. However, in the 37th minute, right-back Eduardo, the only Caxias player not to display bureaucratic football, played a one-two with Adenis and fired a shot toward Bruno's goal, who didn't even see the ball: 5-1. It was a good result.
Midfielder Ibson praises Flamengo's ruthless football
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
The victory was undeniable and achieved in a major way. In Ibson's view, Flamengo could have scored more goals than the five in their 5-1 victory over Duque de Caxias this Sunday at Maracanã Stadium, in the third round of Group A of the Guanabara Cup, the first round of the State Championship.
"We could have scored even more goals. We never underestimated our opponent, who has an excellent team. The team is focused, united and organized. It was a very good victory and now it's time to continue working," he said.
Rubro-Negro's top scorer in the match, Ibson attributed both goals scored to his family.
"I would like to dedicate these goals to my family, especially my son and my wife. They are always with me and always help me with everything I need," he concluded.
For Joel, the impasse between Bruno and Souza has been resolved
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
The victory was already practically sealed, but an unusual situation occurred in Flamengo's 5-1 rout of Duque de Caxias this Sunday at Maracanã Stadium in the State Championship. After Juan's penalty in the 42nd minute of the first half, the fans called for goalkeeper Bruno to take the penalty.
However, Souza, who dreams of being the competition's top scorer, took on the role and created some discomfort with the goalkeeper, who, authorized by Joel Santana, will now cross the entire field.
To avoid a bigger upset, Bruno gave in to the whim of the number 9, who converted the penalty, scoring the fourth goal for the red-black team.
"This problem was resolved in the locker room. At halftime, I had the sensitivity to talk to the players so that no resentment would remain. We are forming a new team and we cannot create any consequences," said Joel Santana, adding later.
"We talked and asked if there was any dissatisfaction, and that was resolved. In our games, Bruno plays up front, and I see his joy when he has the opportunity to score a goal. He just keeps catching balls," he concluded.
GLOBOESPORTE
Joel Santana tries to contain his euphoria
Coach praises the team, but remembers that there is still a lot to improve
Thiago Lavinas
Joel Santana doesn't like seeing Flamengo concede goals in recent State matches
The 5-1 victory over Duque de Caxias on Sunday at Maracanã left Flamengo fans excited. Not just because of the result, but also because of the team's engaging football. But coach Joel Santana is quick to temper the euphoria.
Despite praising the team's first half, Natalino saw flaws in the team's performance.
"Our first half was practically error-free. I really enjoyed it. But I didn't like the second half as much because we gave it too much freedom. I don't like my team conceding a goal every game. We're not here for that to happen every time. I want to see the team leave the field without conceding a goal. The play developed once, and we didn't correct our marking. The second time, we conceded a goal."
Joel Santana will soon have other players at his disposal, such as Diego Tardelli, Kleberson, and Gavilán. But the coach warns that no one has a guaranteed position on the team.
"The team is in good shape, but the best players will play. Those who aren't on the team wait for their opportunity. Life is like that. Someone will get the chance, but it won't be mine. Since I'm the one who picks the lineup."
The coach noted that just because Flamengo has a strong squad doesn't guarantee success. Therefore, his responsibility is immense.
"A team doesn't just fit together overnight. We have good potential, but that's not all there is to football. Just because Flamengo has the best players doesn't mean it has the best team. You have to make the pieces fit together."
Ibson praises the team's attitude
Best on the field in the victory over Duque de Caxias, midfielder says the team is improving
Thiago Lavinas
Ibson is one of Fla's top scorers in the State Championship, with three goals in three matches
Midfielder Ibson, who scored two goals, praised Flamengo's tactical approach in Sunday's 5-1 victory over Duque de Caxias at Maracanã Stadium in the third round of the Taça Guanabara. He highlighted the team's improvement compared to the first two games.
"We stopped Duque de Caxias from playing and got the result. We played better than in the first two matches. The team gets better with each passing game."
Ibson doesn't believe Flamengo's strong performance was due to their opponent's weakness. Duque de Caxias is fifth in Group A with three points.
"It was an important victory. Duque de Caxias gave Fluminense a tough time (they were 2-0 up, but allowed Fluminense to come back 3-2). We went in with the goal of scoring quickly. We did, and from there the game got easier."
The midfielder liked the team's behavior on the field, which did not slow down despite being 4-0 up in the first half.
"We could have scored even more goals. We never underestimated our opponent, who has an excellent team. It was a very good victory, and now it's time to keep working."
Daddy Joel puts the house in order
Coach admits mistake due to confusion on penalty kick, and says the problem will not happen again
Thiago Lavinas
The 5-1 rout of Duque de Caxias this Sunday at Maracanã (watch the video below with the match goals) took a back seat. In the Flamengo locker room, the discussion on the field was over who would take the penalty that led to the fourth goal. Ibson was the official taker, but Souza collected the ball after Juan was brought down in the box. The match was 3-0, and the striker, who hadn't yet found the net, claimed he wanted to score to enter the championship's top scorer race (Souza has three goals, and Madureira's Muriqui is the leading scorer with five).
Bruno's name was also chanted by the fans and coach Joel Santana authorized him to take the shot. But the goalkeeper, who ran the entire field, was also unable to convince Souza to release the ball and returned disappointed. In the end, the number 9 took the shot and scored.
Joel Santana took the blame for the confusion to avoid controversy. But he also made it clear that the incident will not happen again.
"Ibson is the batter. If he has any problems, Léo Moura will take the hit. But Souza took the hit, and I didn't see it. The mistake was mine. The fans chanted Bruno's name, and he looked at me with that look of desire. He just stands there defending, and I know he hits well. The game was decided, and I let him go. Bruno went to take the hit, but they argued over who would take the hit. The important thing is that they understood each other, and the problem was resolved," said Joel Santana.
Souza celebrates his goal, after controversy with Bruno and Ibson before the penalty
The coach just didn't like it when Ibson was asked if the confusion was a sign of a lack of leadership at Flamengo.
"It's normal for two brothers to fight and for the father to step in and resolve the issue. I'm the big daddy. Now, when I say 'big daddy,' I don't mean someone who pats everyone on the head. A big daddy slaps and grounds them. I've already talked to Souza and resolved the issue. During halftime, I had the sensitivity to talk to all three of them so as not to hold a grudge. It can't be left unchecked. When you work as a group and a situation like this arises, you have to nip it in the bud. Ibson understood, Souza understood, and Bruno himself, who had nothing to do with it, too. And it's resolved. In the next few games, there won't be this kind of controversy so as not to irritate or upset me. The coaches will be held accountable," said Joel.
Natalino tried to downplay the issue, saying he doesn't mind if the players argue on the field. For the coach, the most important thing is to play well and win, as Flamengo did this Sunday.
"Anything later, I'll come and sort it out. Whoever's right, I'll clap, and whoever's wrong will go down the hall. In the locker room, I said that Ibson is the one taking the hit, and anyone else will only take the hit if he concedes. And he did."
Ibson explained what happened when Souza picked up the ball to take the penalty.
"It was 3-0, and Souza was confident. He wanted to take the shot; there was no reason he shouldn't. That's a small thing. The important thing is the result. Joel decided it would be me who would take the shot. But on the field, we won't do everything Joel asks. We have to respect him, but we talked it over at the time, and there was no reason Souza shouldn't take the shot."
When asked if Souza would become Flamengo's official kicker since he is fighting for the top scorer title and used this trick to convince him, Ibson preferred to hand the ball over to Joel Santana.
"Joel always evaluates who has the best hitting potential the day before a game. Everyone trains. Me, Souza, Léo Moura... I think it's best to leave the controversy aside. The important thing is the victory."
Ibson: 'The trend is to improve'
Highlight of the victory over Duque de Caixas sees an even better team soon
One of the highlights of Flamengo's 5-1 thrashing of Duque de Caxias in the third round of the Taça Guanabara (watch the video alongside with the goals from the match), midfielder Ibson, who scored two goals, credits the team's good performance to the good marking on this Sunday's opponent.
"We kept Duque de Caxias at bay and managed to score, coming away with the victory. This Sunday we were much better than against Boavista and Cardoso Moreira. The tendency is that, over time, we will improve even more," he concludes.
Flamengo wins with Ibson's show
Souza prevents goalkeeper Bruno from taking a penalty during the victory over Duque de Caxias
Thiago Lavinas
With a show from Ibson and Leo Moura, Flamengo had no trouble defeating Duque de Caxias 5-1 this Sunday at Maracanã. The result leaves the team atop Group A of the Carioca Championship with nine points and a 100% record. Duque de Caxias remains with three points. The Rubro-Negro goals were scored by Marcinho, Ibson (2), Leo Moura, and Souza. Eduardo pulled one back.
The match was marked by a curious moment. Juan was awarded a penalty, and the fans chanted goalkeeper Bruno's name. Bruno ran to take the penalty, but striker Souza caught the ball and said he would be the one to take it. Ibson, the official taker, tried to reason with him. But Bruno returned to the goal disappointed, and Souza scored.
IN THE NEXT ROUND
Wednesday - (19:30 p.m.) - Flamengo x Macaé - Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro\ Wednesday - (16 p.m.) - Duque de Caxias x Cardoso Moreira - Duque de Caxias\
Attack against defense
Flamengo decided the match in the first half. From the opening minutes, the team went on the attack and suffocated Duque de Caxias. In the fifth minute, Souza missed his first opportunity. After receiving the ball unmarked in the box, the striker shot straight at the defender. Goalkeeper Fernando was blindsided by the play.
Despite the pressure, the first goal didn't come until the 20th minute. Toró went to the byline and crossed to Marcinho. He tangled with the defender, but the ball fell clear, and the striker fired home the goal: Flamengo 1-0. It was the former Atlético-MG player's first goal for Flamengo.
With Madson wide open on the left flank and Viola positioned between the defenders, Duque de Caxias was unable to create any attacking moves. Despite the advantage, Flamengo continued to attack. The second goal came after a scuffle in the box. The ball fell to Ibson, who fired a cross-shot past goalkeeper Fernando.
Without giving their opponents a chance to breathe, Flamengo scored their third goal. A free kick near the box. Jônatas unleashed a powerful shot. Fernando released the ball into the box, and Leo Moura took advantage to finish for the goal.
Souza doesn't let Bruno take a penalty
Ibson and Jônatas celebrate Flamengo's goal against Duque de Caxias. Bruno's first save came in the 39th minute. Madson took a free kick from the edge of the box into the left corner. But the Flamengo goalkeeper calmly caught it. Shortly after, a curious moment arose. Juan was brought down in the box, and the referee awarded a penalty. The fans, at the same time, began chanting goalkeeper Bruno's name. On Saturday, in the match between Vasco and Mesquita, goalkeeper Tiago scored one of the goals in Vasco's victory. The number 1 looked to the bench and received permission from coach Joel Santana. Bruno ran the entire field with the fans chanting his name. But when he arrived to take the shot, he found Souza holding the ball and talking to Ibson. The striker, who hadn't yet found the net, wanted to take it no matter what. He refused to hand the ball to Bruno, who returned disappointed. Once the "problem" was overcome, Souza took the penalty and scored the fourth goal for the red-black team.\
The first half would feature another curious incident. Defender Daniel fouled Marcinho. Referee Wagner do Nascimento Magalhães gave the Duque de Caxias player a red card and sent him off. However, after being warned that Daniel hadn't yet received a yellow card, he returned and showed only a yellow card.
Only one red-black goal in the second half
Flamengo players celebrate another goal against Duque de Caxias. The second half began without Flamengo slowing down. The fifth goal came just four minutes in. A beautiful one-two between Leo Moura and Ibson in the box, and the midfielder finished for the goal. The sixth almost came shortly after when Marcinho received a free kick from Leo Moura and shot straight at Fernando, just as the goalkeeper was out.
Flamengo could have done more. But they missed many chances. First with Souza, then with Ibson. Maxi broke into the box unmarked but misplaced his pass. Even Obina had a chance. As punishment, Duque de Caxias pulled one back in the end with Eduardo. The full-back entered the box and shot across goal for a consolation goal.
In the 40th minute of the second half, a free kick was awarded just outside the box. The fans chanted Bruno's name again. The goalkeeper ran to take the shot, but it went wide, over the crossbar. But it served to further fuel the red-and-black celebration.
THROW
Flamengo wins and remains 100% in Carioca
Without any scares, the team overcomes Duque de Caxias at Maracanã, but the striker has a small clash with his teammates.
Fábio Luciano argues with Souza before the striker takes a penalty at Maracanã (Credit: Cleber Mendes)
Fred Gomes RIO DE JANEIRO
In Flamengo's first major performance of the year, Joel Santana's team crushed Duque de Caxias, mercilessly defeating them 5-1. Marcinho, Ibson (two), Leonardo Moura, and Souza scored the goals. Eduardo pulled one back. Despite the spectacle, there was a tense moment during the match, as Bruno was allowed by the Flamengo coach to take the penalty that led to the game's fourth goal. However, Joel's permission was "taken away" by Souza, who beat his chest and said he would take it. At the end of the game, Gávea's number 1 had the "consolation" of taking a free kick, and the players minimized the friction.
With the victory, Rubro-Negro took sole leadership of Group A with nine points. Joel's team also boasts the best attack in the competition, scoring 11 goals.
The Red-Blacks started the match at a fast pace, with Souza and Marcinho as their main weapons. While the former surprised everyone by getting the upper hand in most individual plays, the latter tormented the Caxias defense with dribbling and a lot of movement.
The red-and-black's first big chance came six minutes into the game, when Marcinho received a beautiful pass from Jônatas and crossed. Souza couldn't control the ball, and it fell to Juan, who crossed to the red-and-black number 9. However, he shot straight at the opposing defender.
The red-and-black supremacy was blatant, both in territorial dominance and in playmaking. The first reward for Flamengo's superiority came in the 20th minute. Toró advanced down the right and crossed into the box. Marcinho lost the ball in the air, but recovered low and, with his left foot, opened the scoring, scoring his first goal for the club.
Joel Santana's team's second goal came in the 29th minute, after a series of confusing plays: Jaílton came up on the right and tried to pass to Léo Moura, but the ball went straight to Souza. The striker passed it back to Léo, who passed it to Ibson, who, unmarked, made no mistake and fired a shot past goalkeeper Fernando.
Jaílton, assigned to prevent goals, was involved again in a goal by taking the free kick that led to the third goal. The number 8 unleashed a right-footed shot, which goalkeeper Fernando parried. Léo Moura, with his left foot, finished into the Caxiense net.
The red-and-black rivalry continued after a controversy. Juan cut in from the left side of the opposing defense and was brought down. Wagner Nascimento Magalhães signaled the penalty, and a commotion erupted: the red-and-black fans, perhaps spurred on by the goal scored by Vasco goalkeeper Tiago (against Mesquita on Saturday), called for Bruno to take the shot. Joel authorized it, and the red-and-black number 1 crossed the field, but was "blocked" by Souza. After two minutes of back-and-forth, the striker scored the fourth goal and ran off shouting profanities.
Aiming to cement their large lead, Flamengo started the second half with a similar pace to the first. Proof of this is the fifth goal for Flamengo in the fifth minute, following a sensational one-two between Leonardo Moura and Ibson, which ended with the latter tapping it into Fernando's net.
After Ibson's second goal, Flamengo began to control the game, but still created good chances with shots from Juan, Ronaldo Angelim, and Jônatas. The opportunity was wasted by Maxi, who made a great run down the left but, free, fired a weak shot into Fernando's hands.
In the 37th minute, the consolation goal for the Baixada Fluminense team came: Eduardo advanced on the right and, with his left foot, shot without Bruno having a chance.
With four minutes remaining in regulation time, Flamengo's number 1 attempted to score the long-awaited goal with a free kick. However, the ball sailed over the Duque de Caxias team's crossbar.
Souza puts a damper on the confusion
Matador prevented Bruno from taking the penalty that led to the fourth goal
Despite the red-and-black's merciless thrashing of Duque de Caxias, not everything was joy at Maracanã: on the penalty converted by Souza, the red-and-black number 9 prevented Bruno, who had been authorized by Joel to take the penalty, from taking it. The striker, however, avoided controversy:
- Bruno will still do his thing, we need to stay calm. It's no problem, I'm happy because the team is winning - Souza said after the end of the first half.
Souza also recalled that he is not the team's official kicker, but that taking the penalty was a reward for the fight he felt he had shown in the first half.
- The team's official batsman is Ibson, but I'm running and trying hard, why not bat? - he asked.
Flamengo players avoid controversial discussion
Ibson, Souza, Léo Moura and even Bruno wanted to take the penalty that resulted in Flamengo's fourth goal
Shortly before the end of the first half, a single incident caught the attention of everyone watching Flamengo's rout of Duque de Caxias. The Gávea team was awarded a penalty, and four of its players disagreed over who would take it.
Ibson, Souza, Léo Moura, and even goalkeeper Bruno stepped up to take the penalty, but Souza quickly took the ball and prevented the others from arguing, creating a minor disturbance. After converting the penalty, Souza ran toward a section of the fans, saying something like, "Not him, me!", referring to the chants of another section, who were calling for goalkeeper Bruno.
During the break, when asked about the whole mess, Ibson and Bruno played it cool and rejected any disagreement within the group.
"There's no discussion, no. He (Souza) took the shot and, thank God, scored. The group isn't vain. He wanted to take it, he said he was better. He did it, no problem," Ibson said, sounding similar to the Flamengo goalkeeper.
"What I want most is for Souza to be a top scorer. I went there and told Souza he could score," he declared.
Upon returning for the second half, coach Joel Santana, when asked about the whole mess, showed some irritation.
"Let's talk about the (so far) 4-0. It's all settled. This is my problem, and I'll resolve it back in Gávea. A husband and wife argue, and everything's fine later at home. It's (so far) 4-0, let's celebrate," he said evasively.
Official scout, Ibson is not irritated with Souza
Player let Souza take the penalty that led to Fla's fourth goal
Flamengo's official penalty taker, midfielder Ibson, dismissed the controversy surrounding the penalty kick that led to the fourth goal in the 5-1 victory over Duque de Caxias. According to the player, there was no reason not to let Souza take it:
"It was 3-0, Souza was confident, and there was no reason not to let him take the shot. I think it's a small thing, and the important thing is that we got the three points."
Flamengo's number 7 still believes that, if he took away Souza's opportunity to take the penalty, it could cause discomfort.
- Bruno has been practicing free kicks and penalties, but since Souza had already got the ball, taking it out of his hands would be a bit annoying.
Joel Santana admits mistake in authorizing Bruno\ Technician said the problem will be fixed by Monday at the latest\
Joel wants an end to penalty-related problems (Credit: Cléber Mendes)
The controversy surrounding the penalty kick that led to Flamengo's fourth goal in their 5-1 victory over Duque de Caxias has already been pinned on the culprit: Joel Santana. The Flamengo coach himself confirms this:
"Ibson is the batsman, followed by Léo Moura. Since the game was already decided, I released Bruno. The mistake was mine, as I sent Bruno there after the fans asked. Bruno is training. They discussed it and reached an understanding. I'm not worried about the argument after seeing a team win the way they did," explains Joel.
The coach saw the discussion as something natural and even positive for the team.
"It's hard to play 60, 70 games and not have any disagreements. I don't want my team to be pretty, well-organized, and still losing. It's good to have discussions, and we talk at the club. If the problem isn't resolved, I'll resolve it tomorrow (Monday)."
When asked if the fact that he was considered a "father figure" in football circles wouldn't have made it easier to let Bruno take the penalty, Joel didn't reject the label and once again admitted his mistake.
"I messed up, that won't happen again. It wasn't even Souza's fault." Bruno gave me a look. "He kicks well, he just keeps catching the ball. Now, those who practice hit, those who don't practice, don't hit. I'm a great dad, but a great dad also grounds, spanks, and pulls ears. If my kids fight, I have to do something about it."