The Globe
Victory in the spirit of the fans
In front of the biggest crowd in the Brazilian league, Flamengo defeats leaders São Paulo 1-0
Photo caption: With arms open, Ibson (7) runs towards the fans after chipping the ball over Rogério Ceni and scoring Flamengo's winning goal against São Paulo. Supporting the team from start to finish, the red-and-black fans (below) once again packed the Maracanã and put on a show.
São Paulo was unbeaten in 13 away matches and 16 in the Brazilian Championship, and with a draw, it would equal its 17-match unbeaten streak, dating back to 1973. But it would face a dedicated Flamengo team and its fans, who once again proved that, when they want to, they can make a difference. In front of 68.031 fans—59.098 paying fans, a championship record—the red-and-black team put on a convincing performance, winning 1-0, and moving up to 10th place in the table, level on 40 points but one win behind Vasco.
- This victory means a lot to the team, it gives us morale and we can move forward - said supporter Ibson, who scored the only goal of the game.
Some, like Fábio Luciano, couldn't hide their emotion at the end of the match, not because of the victory itself, but because of the impressive display of love from the red-and-black fans for the team.
"Our hearts are in the stands," he said, his eyes slightly teary. "I've never felt this way. We play in other places with 15 people. And here, 70 come."
Coach Joel Santana, who also praised the participation of the stands in the great red-black night, recalled that São Paulo is the best team in the championship but, yesterday, Flamengo was far superior.
"We were better, and getting the result was just a matter of time. We didn't make any silly mistakes; the team was vibrant, as Flamengo should always be," said the coach, who lost Maxi, suspended for his third yellow card, for Sunday's derby against Fluminense.
Bruno makes a spectacular save at the end
Flamengo started the match with a tight defense and a fast attack. They only failed to open the scoring in the fourth minute because Zé Luís beat Maxi in the six-yard box before the Argentine could finish Juan's cross from the six-yard box.
To contain the red-and-black momentum, São Paulo started passing the ball around to kill time and try to find spaces to play Borges and Dagoberto. But it was Cristian, with a shot from the edge of the box in the 25th minute, that hit Rogério Ceni's crossbar, and ten minutes later, forced the São Paulo goalkeeper into a good save after a one-two with Maxi.
Just four minutes into the second half, Flamengo got what they wanted. After a back-and-forth in São Paulo's defense, Alex Silva made a poor clearance, Ibson collected the rebound and, after beating André Dias in the race, slotted it past Rogério Ceni to make it 1-0. Shortly after, Ibson himself led a counterattack and set up Maxi, who cut inside Jadilson but shot weakly. Coach Muricy Ramalho then took off Dagoberto and brought on Aloísio, but São Paulo couldn't hold the ball up front.
Flamengo continued to pose a threat, but Bruno secured the victory. In the 42nd minute, after a corner kick from Richarlysson, Aloísio headed the ball, and the goalkeeper made a spectacular save in two attempts.
Yesterday, the STJD postponed the trial of the appeal in which Flamengo requests a review of Obina's suspension.
Flamengo: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Fabio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Romulo, Cristian, Jailton and Ibson (Leo Medeiros); Maxi (Roger) and Souza. Sao Paulo: Roger Ceni, Breno, Andre Dias and Alex Silva; Richarlysson, Ze Luis (Fernando), Jorge Wagner, Leandro and Jadilson (Diego Tardelli); Dagoberto (Aloisio) and Borges. Referee: Sergio Carvalho (DF). Yellow cards: Leandro, Jadilson, Souza and Maxi. Paying attendance: 59.098. Revenue: R$ 878.669,00.
FLAMENGO:\ BRUNO: He saved the team at the end by defending twice, one of them when he was down, Aloísio's accurate header. 7.\
LEONARDO MOURA: Stuck in defense, he didn't support the attack as much as in other matches. He stepped up his game in the second half and was instrumental in Ibson's goal. 7,5.
FÁBIO LUCIANO: He played seriously and wasn't ashamed to shoot forward, high up... 6,5.
RONALDO ANGELIM: Safe, he didn't give any space to the opposing players, but with a little more class than his defensive partner. 7.
JUAN: A constant presence in attack, he participated in the most dangerous plays with his usual determination and efficiency. A solid defensive player. 7,5.
RÔMULO: He fulfilled his role in the middle well and did not compromise. 6.
CRISTIAN: Well-coordinated, he linked up well with Maxi and Souza and hit the crossbar with a shot from outside the box. 7,5.
JAÍLTON: Regular in marking, he was timid in attack and missed some simple passes. 6.
IBSON: He tried his luck with long-range shots, but was subdued in the first half. He returned from the break with more energy and scored a beautiful goal, chipping it over Rogério Ceni. 8,5. He came off in the second half, making way for LÉO MEDEIROS, who helped secure the result. 6.
MAXI: His dribbling got the crowd going. He played a fierce one-two, competed for plays, and even came back to help with the marking. He had at least two clear chances to score. 7,5. He came off to let in ROGER, who came back after being taken off by Joel, misplaced passes, and lacked rhythm. 4.
SOUZA: Led counterattacks and gave the team speed, even when faced with collisions. Participated in the play that led to Ibson's goal. 7.
JOEL SANTANA: His team remained calm and, after the break, effectively took advantage of the only defensive error to end São Paulo's unbeaten run. 8.
FANS: The red-and-black fans were out in force at the Maracanã, a record crowd for the competition, and put on a beautiful and peaceful celebration. They cheered the team on throughout and were rewarded with the victory. 10.
SAO PAULO:\ ROGERIO CENI: Despite Flamengo's dominance, he was forced to make few difficult saves. He was unable to prevent Ibson's goal. 6.\
BRENO: He had a lot of difficulty covering the defense's flanks. He was involved in the fast plays. 4.
ANDRÉ DIAS: He had problems fighting Souza and was involved in some plays. 4,5.
ALEX SILVA: The best player in São Paulo's defense. He was able to impose himself in the air and in individual combat, as well as providing an option for passing the ball out on the right. 7,5.
LEANDRO: Very dedicated tactically, he only started to have an offensive presence in the second half, when São Paulo was already losing the game. 6.
ZÉ LUÍS: After getting injured early in the game, he tried bravely to stay on the field, but he wasn't fit enough. 5. He was replaced by FERNANDO, who tried to be more offensive, but misplaced many passes. He also had trouble marking. 5.
RICHARLYSON: Lots of movement. He tried plays on both sides of the field, giving the wingers and forwards options to play one-twos. 6,5.
JORGE WAGNER: Made a lot of tackles, but wasn't very good in attacking plays or set pieces. 5,5.
JADÍLSON: For much of the game, he lost the duel with Leonardo Moura. He only managed one good play in supporting the attack. 4,5. He was replaced by DIEGO TARDELLI, who had few chances. 5.
DAGOBERTO: He succumbed to Flamengo's defensive marking and tried to win fouls and penalties. 4,5. ALOÍSIO came on and showed his presence in the box, almost tying the game with a header near the end. 6,5.
BORGES: Even when marked, he gave Flamengo's defense a hard time. He forced Bruno to make an important save. 7.
MURICY RAMALHO: His team tried to pace the game and contain Flamengo's momentum, but only dared to do so when they were at a disadvantage. 5.
ARBITRATION
Sérgio Carvalho didn't face any major difficulties. In a fair game, he made no serious mistakes.
Canarinho flies at the top of the most beautiful
The 70 national team jersey is voted the most beautiful in history by "The Times." Flamengo ranks 48th
Photo caption: PELÉ (10) HUGS Rivelino (11) watched by Jairzinho (7), Clodoaldo (5) and Tostão (9) celebrating one of the four goals against Italy in the final
LONDON. Capturing the yellow color clearly was a challenge for the first color broadcast of a World Cup on TV. Thanks to the innovative technology of the time, the most developed countries—Brazil watched the World Cup in black and white—were able to idolize in color the jersey of the Brazilian team, three-time champions of the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, voted by the British newspaper "The Times" as the most beautiful in history. The poll selected the 50 unforgettable jerseys, and only one Brazilian club made the list. In 48th place is Flamengo's uniform, compared by the newspaper to a comic book character: "If Dennis the Menace managed a club, the jersey would be the same as that of the team with the biggest fan base in Brazil."
The Times calls the Brazilian national team's jersey color scheme an "unusual and, at first glance, bizarre combination of green, yellow, blue, and white." It also emphasizes that "no other team has ever been better dressed than Pelé, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto, and company."
Brazil wore yellow for the first time in the 54 World Cup
In the TV footage, Brazil surprised everyone by the fact that the other teams wore more sober uniforms. "The combination posed a real challenge for the first color television broadcasts and was worn by a team that was difficult to imitate, including in its appearance," added The Times.
The "canarinho" jersey emerged after Brazil lost the 1950 World Cup at the Maracanã Stadium to Uruguay. A 1953 competition, sponsored by the former Brazilian Sports Confederation (CBD), changed the team's appearance, which had previously been solely blue and white. Beginning with the 1954 World Cup, the team began wearing the uniform that made it famous, designed by Aldyr Garcia Schlee, then 19, and based on that of Brasil de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul.
In second place, another myth: Real Madrid's 1960 white jersey. "An icon, without logos or captions that would ruin its perfection. Worn by champions of the stature of Argentina's Alfredo Di Stéfano," the newspaper says. Third place went to the Azzurri jersey worn by Italy, defeated by Brazil in the 70 World Cup final, considered the most beautiful among European teams.
Journalists participating in the election took the opportunity to criticize the current uniforms. "The jerseys were worn before the players looked like advertisements." Perhaps that's why English teams from the past, such as Wolves, Queen's Park Rangers, Crystal Palace, and Partick Thistle, are on the list.
Despite being compared to Dennis's red-and-black jersey, Flamengo's white uniform is what remains most vivid in the English mind. Wearing that jersey and led by Zico, the team defeated Liverpool—who are ranked fifth on the list—in the 5 Club World Cup final. On the "Times" website, a Brazilian left the following message:
"Flamengo's '81 kit really is one of the most beautiful I remember. And Liverpool fans will never forget it."
Sports Journal
Joel: 'We played much better than São Paulo'
The 1-0 victory over São Paulo was a boost for the red-and-black team. After spending much of the Brasileirão in the relegation zone, Flamengo entered the race for a spot in the Copa Sudamericana with a vengeance, breaking the São Paulo team's 17-game unbeaten streak.
Without taking away the merits of the Brasileirão leader, Joel Santana stated that Flamengo was a much better team in the duel against the São Paulo team.
"This was Flamengo's toughest game so far, and it means a lot to the team, as we're coming into this very strong season. In my opinion, São Paulo is the best team in Brazilian football right now, but we played much better than them today, much better indeed. We didn't make those silly mistakes like before," the coach observed.
Joel also recalled that he imposed a harsh regime on the red-black players to honor the red-black jersey.
"At Flamengo, it has to be this way; otherwise, it's not worth it. I talked to the players a while ago: to play for Flamengo, you have to work hard," he emphasizes.
The wall is gone!
São Paulo's defense concedes its tenth goal of the championship. Joel celebrates the victory.
SERGIO MELLO, THIAGO BOKEL AND NATHAN DE LIMA
Nina Lima
Watched by André Dias, Íbson touches the ball to score the goal that ended the leader's unbeaten run
Flamengo's victory over São Paulo was celebrated by the players in the locker room. Coach Joel Santana, who had the team in excellent hands, revealed the strategy he used to defeat them: tight marking of the opponent's key playmakers.
"They had four players I knew very well (Jorge Vagner, Jadílson, Aloísio, and Borges). They played with a full-back who hadn't been playing and another who was playing in the wings. So, I put my full-backs in to put pressure on them, and Rômulo, who marked Dagoberto very well. I think all the players did their job very well," said Joel, who added that it would have been unfair for Flamengo to concede the equalizer.
In 14 Brasileirão games played at Maracanã, Flamengo achieved its eighth victory, in addition to five draws and one loss (in the competition's debut against Palmeiras). Experiencing a period of ascent, the club, despite having played a game less, already sits in tenth place with 40 points, eight points out of the Copa Libertadores zone.
"When we arrived at Flamengo, the team had only 12 points. We worked hard and are gradually reaping the rewards. We're getting closer to the boat. Once we get there, we'll be able to see the horizon, called Libertadores," Joel said.
Flamengo's army\ For the coach, Flamengo's fans felt from the beginning that, due to the team's attitude on the field, the players were determined to win.\
"We're betting on the homegrown talent. While we've gotten our heads above water, now if we can keep up this momentum, we'll have a tough opponent ahead of us: Fluminense," concluded Joel Santana.
The coach also praised the opponent, considering the São Paulo club currently the best in the Brazilian Championship. Furthermore, according to the coach, even with eight rounds remaining in the competition, São Paulo will be the champion by a landslide.
"São Paulo is by far the best team in football because of everything they've done so far. I believe São Paulo is already a champion. They're a team that plays efficiently on both sides of the field, has a great goalkeeper, a solid midfield, and an attack that won't forgive you if you mess up," concluded Joel Santana.
The strength of a nation
Supported by the crowd that filled the Maracanã, Fla ends São Paulo's 16-game unbeaten streak
JOSE ANTONIO GERHEIM
Nina Lima
The fans were the difference in Flamengo's favor once again and showed their great strength.
Joel's ant work, the tactical application and the will of the players, added to the incomparable strength and faith of a crowd, who knows how to be with their beloved team in the hours when it most needs support and encouragement, led Flamengo to its most deserved victory in this Brazilian Championship, exactly over the absolute leader, the vaunted São Paulo team, by 1 to 0, goal by Ibson, 4 minutes into the second half.
A goal in true Flamengo style, scored after a ball was contested between Souza and the most efficient defense in the league, which fell to the Flamengo number seven, who picked it up and, in front of Rogério Ceni, didn't hesitate. He then tapped it neatly into the back of the net. São Paulo's 16-game unbeaten streak was coming to an end.
A goal that transformed the Maracanã into a red and black madness of waving flags, clasped hands and the certainty that that goal, which could have already come in the first half, was the crowning achievement of a performance not of a masterpiece of technique, but of the will and determination of an entire team, of the unshakable union between command and commanded and their greatest player: the Flamengo fan.
The first message to São Paulo came early on, when Maxi arrived on the left and pulled off three stunning dribbles against the league's best defense. The goal didn't come, but it lifted the team and the fans.
The team knew exactly what to do to neutralize São Paulo, with their two excellent full-backs, Leo Moura and Juan, supporting the attack, Souza and Maxi moving in all directions, and Joel's wall in midfield with Cristian, Rômulo, Jailson, and Íbson grabbing all the rebounds, leaving the defense and Bruno completely at ease. So much so that around the 20th minute, Christian took a chance from almost midfield, unleashed a bomb, and the ball only missed the goal because it hit the crossbar.
Another warning to Rogério Ceni and Muricy: the championship isn't over yet, and that Flamengo, playing like this, is as invincible as São Paulo, if not more so. And now that they've reached 40 points, they're in the fight for the top spot, not the bottom. And Sunday is Fla-Flu.
Fabio Luciano praises victory against the leader
Flamengo achieved an excellent result in front of nearly 70 Flamengo fans at Maracanã this Thursday. The team defeated São Paulo, the Brazilian Championship leader, 1-0. After the game, defender Fábio Luciano praised the difficulty of achieving this result.
"We need to win, especially against the leaders. They were unbeaten in 16 games, and few managed to beat them. We worked hard, well done, with Joel and the board. We know it was tough, and we did it. The important thing was to fight and give the three points and bring joy to these fans. I'm thrilled with all of this," said the Flamengo captain.
Delirium and redemption at Maraca
Flamengo ends São Paulo's unbeaten run and says goodbye to relegation
Jorge Lourenço jlourenco@jsports.com.br
Nina Lima
With open arms, Ibson celebrates the red-black goal alongside Maxi
On the night that marked Flamengo's redemption in the Brazilian Championship, the red-and-black Nation packed the Maracanã stadium, breaking the competition's attendance record, and witnessing a 1-0 victory over São Paulo, which erased the specter of relegation and ended the competition leader's 16-game unbeaten streak. The result lifted Flamengo to 10th place and prevented the São Paulo team from taking a run at the top of the tournament.
Click here and check out Joel's comment on the red-black victory!
Encouraged by the fans, Flamengo started the match with a strong attacking approach. Early on, Maxi Biancucchi unleashed a festivity on the São Paulo defense with a series of dribbles. Inspired, the Argentine nearly opened the scoring after a superb cross from Juan, but his shot went over the crossbar. After the first 10 minutes, São Paulo managed to break the red-and-black momentum, but still couldn't mount any significant attacks.
Maracanã was back in the 26th minute, when Cristian took a shot from the middle of the field and smashed it against Rogério Ceni's crossbar with a powerful shot. Flamengo, in full control of the match, had another great chance before the end of the first half. Cristian played a beautiful one-two with Maxi, but his shot went straight at the São Paulo goalkeeper.
Ibson Lifts the Nation\ São Paulo started the second half on the attack and tried to mount a comeback against Flamengo's dominance, but the momentum was short-lived. In Flamengo's first attack, Ibson took advantage of a rebound in the box, controlled the ball with his chest, and shot slowly over the goalkeeper, opening the scoring to the delight of the Rio fans.\
Flamengo's goal shook the Tricolor, who narrowly avoided conceding a second. Ceni, renowned for his efficiency, nearly handed over a layup with a throw-in that almost ended up at Souza's feet. Desperate to equalize, the Brasileirão leader launched an attack. Quick counterattacks led by the Flamengo fullbacks intensified the match. Despite the pressure, Mengão continued to be the better team and had the most dangerous attacks of the match.
Near the end, the fans were in for another big scare. In the 42nd minute, with the result in their hands, Jorge Wágner took a corner kick with precision, and Aloísio headed it toward goal, but Bruno palmed it away, the ball even hitting the crossbar, and some São Paulo fans were already celebrating. The referee, rightly, disallowed the goal and allowed the game to continue.
Next Sunday, Flamengo will face another Tricolor team: Fluminense. The derby will be played at Maracanã Stadium at 18:10 PM. São Paulo will also return to the field for a derby at 16 PM against Corinthians at Morumbi Stadium.
Nike may break off its relationship with Flamengo
Now goalkeeper Bruno is almost ready to do what he's wanted to do for a long time. After four months of arguing to have the Vulture on his jersey, the player will finally be able to wear the mascot starting Sunday's Fla-Flu match, with only authorization from Nike, Flamengo's sports equipment supplier, remaining.
But the problem may be much bigger than simple authorization. The relationship between Nike and Flamengo has been strained ever since the American supplier began delaying shipments of uniforms for both soccer and Olympic sports. Ricardo Hinrichsen, the club's vice president of marketing, avoided controversy.
"We've had problems with Nike in the past, but at this point the relationship is normal. They've revamped their planning for the Brazilian market and are managing to bring the soccer equipment up to date. We still have a contract until June 2009, and the intention is to keep it," Ricardo tried to deny.
Obina's trial postponedDue to a health issue affecting the case's reporting judge, Caio Rocha, striker Obina's trial before the full Superior Court of Justice (STJD) has been postponed. A new date has not yet been decided. Attorney Michel Assef Filho may attempt to obtain a stay of execution again. Also yesterday, 50% of August's salaries were paid.
State Futsal Championship catches fire
The teams' scores are equal and each return game will be vital to stay alive.
Mariana Land
Ursula Nery/JS Archive 31/8/2007
In the first match of the championship, Fla beat América, with difficulty, by 1 to 0
Four matches will be played today in the State Futsal Championship. The two groups are very close in scoring. The last round was marked by intense fighting from both teams and two big wins.
Fighting for the lead in Group B, Flamengo will face an important and difficult home game against América today. The match should be marked by strong determination from both teams. According to Flamengo coach Cid Escarlate, the teams are evenly matched.
"We expect a balanced game because our opponent is coming off a good result and a victory is important for their ambitions."
The American team is fighting to qualify for the next round. Last week, they played a thrilling game and drew with Macaé.
"It's about going in and winning. We made up the difference in the last game and the victory puts us among the qualifiers," said coach Alan Salino.
Macaé faces Piedade in front of its home fans in a match worth six points for both teams. The Macaé team's draw in the last round left the coaching staff and players upset.
"We didn't expect a draw and were upset about the game. We worked hard on our mistakes and will go for the win. A loss would ruin the championship," said coach Sávio Badini, referring to the close points between the group's leading teams.
Leader vs. Last-placed team\ The leader of the second group, Cabo Frio, will face last-placed team Drogaria do Povo.\
"The team is prepared and focused on the game, which will be difficult. It's a regional derby, and our opponent knows our game," said Rodrigo Barreto, the team's coach.
Drogaria hasn't yet managed to earn any points in the championship, but they've been training hard to earn points. "Our team is trying to bounce back in the championship, but the absences have been constant, and that makes things difficult," said Flávio, the team's coach.
In Group A, Petrópolis, coming off an excellent victory against Vasco, will face CSSE tonight. The team from the mountains is seeking its sixth consecutive victory and early qualification for the quarterfinals. Coach Malafaia's main concern is scoring goals.
"During the week, we demanded a lot from the attack. In the last three matches, we had the same problem: we didn't choose the best moment to finish. The defense is good, but we need to do much more," he analyzed. The game will be held at the UCP Gymnasium.
O Dia
Flamengo defeats leaders São Paulo at Maracanã
Marluci Martins
Rio - The special guest was the current Brazilian champion. But Flamengo doesn't usually treat its visitors well when playing at home. Flamengo defeated leaders São Paulo 1-0 and completed a 13-game unbeaten streak at Maracanã. Íbson scored the winning goal, which put the team in 10th place with 40 points, tied with Vasco, both with a game in hand. Despite the loss, Flamengo maintained a 12-point lead over Cruzeiro, second with 51.
Driven by nearly 70 fans in the stadium—a record attendance for the Brazilian Championship—Flamengo started out struggling. In the fourth minute, Souza led a counterattack and passed to Juan, who crossed. Maxi challenged the defense, and the ball went over the crossbar.
The São Paulo team began to value possession, but couldn't find any shots on goal. In the 25th minute, Flamengo nearly opened the scoring. Cristian took a long-range shot that hit the crossbar. Shortly after, Cristian himself fired a low shot, but Rogério Ceni saved.
After the break, the red-and-black team's superiority translated into a goal. In the fourth minute, after a back-and-forth at the defense, the ball fell to Íbson, who cleverly ran behind André Dias and chipped the ball over goalkeeper Rogério Ceni with a superb touch, making it 4-1.
Flamengo wanted more. In the 10th minute, after a quick counterattack, Maxi burst into the box but shot poorly. São Paulo began to attack more, but Bruno didn't have any problems. The red-and-black team retreated and created more space in midfield.
DRAMA AND OLÉ AT THE END
In the 42nd minute, Aloísio headed the ball, and Bruno performed a miracle: the ball hit the crossbar and the goalkeeper, but didn't go in. From the bench, Joel Santa instructed the ball boys to get rid of the balls. The fans in the stands, cheering, even chanting "olé" when the team had possession.
The victory really heated up Sunday's Fla-Flu match. "We're in high spirits for the derby," said Íbson, as he thanked the Flamengo fans for their support.
Ibson's Roguery
After 20 days away from the squad, Íbson returned to the team and scored the winning goal. To much celebration, the player explained his cleverness during the play that decided the match. "It was a complicated play. After the rebound, I managed to pull the ball back with my chest, half with my shoulder. Then, I appeared in front and, with ease, scored the winning goal," the player stated.
After much celebration on the field and in the locker room, Íbson commented on the importance of a victory over the leaders. "This victory means a lot, even more so with the support of this crowd. There's no emotion like it. The result improved our situation. Now, it's time to focus on the Fla-Flu match. We need to stay calm to win Sunday's derby," said Íbson, who took the opportunity to thank his teammates and family for their support during his time away from the team.
MAXI IS OUT OF ORDER
Maxi received his third yellow card and will serve a suspension against Fluminense. The first option would have been to bring Leonardo on, but Joel Santana will only begin to define the team for the derby this Friday. Renato Augusto is not yet fit to play. In the match, Roger came on in the second half to replace the Argentine striker.
Obina's trial postponed
Obina's retrial was not held and currently has no date. The reason was the absence of the case's rapporteur, Caio Rocha, who did not appear before the STJD (Superior Court of Sports Justice) for health reasons.
Obina would be tried to change the sentence of the Second Disciplinary Commission, which on September 18 sentenced him to 120 days of suspension for having elbowed Índio, from Internacional.
Flamengo's legal department will attempt to acquit Obina. If that's not possible, it will seek to downgrade the assault charge to a hostile act, which would reduce the penalty to a one- to three-game suspension.
Supporter Hugo, from São Paulo, who was tackled by Goiano, from Paraná, and retaliated by spitting, tried to have his sentence reduced, but was again sentenced to 120 days.
The rapporteurs refused to take into consideration Hugo's apology to the player who was spat on and also disregarded the arguments of the Tricolor defense, which was made orally and should have also been made in writing.
Bosco's case was also re-heard. After being suspended for one match, the São Paulo goalkeeper was suspended for another game. Against Palmeiras, the player made offensive gestures toward the Verdão fans and, after the match ended, ran onto the field, picked up a pile of batteries from the ground (which had been thrown by the fans), and pretended to the referee that he had been hit.
Victory leads Joel to dream of higher flights
Rio - A potential death penalty in the Brazilian Championship, Flamengo is beginning to discover and believe in new horizons in the championship. For Joel Santana, the victory over leaders São Paulo and the climb up the table have restored the Red-Blacks' confidence.
"When I arrived, we had 12 points. Now, we're clear of it. With a few more points, we'll get back on track to see what our future holds," said the coach, who declined to make any plans for the Copa Sudamericana or the Copa Libertadores.
Even with respect for São Paulo, Joel admitted he expected more difficulties yesterday. "I expected a tougher match, but we played better and deserved to win.
We beat the leader and showed that we have the ability to beat the runner-up as well,” he added.
Both the coach and players showered praise on the fans, who threw a huge party at Maracanã. After the victory, the team and fans celebrated as if it were a title win. "The fans and players came together and went to the stadium. With this support, we have no right to not show grit. I told the group that to play here, you have to work hard, always. We have to celebrate, because it's not every day we beat the league leader," declared Joel Santana, already thinking about the Fla-Flu match: "We have little time to work. It's important to have emotional balance."
CLUB INNOVATES AND PAYS 'HALF A MONTH'
The club's board of directors has secured the necessary authorization from the Board of Directors to use, in stages, the R$11 million it expects to receive by December from its Petrobras contract. The first installment, likely next week, of the loan taken out from financial institutions will be approximately R$3,5 million.
The funds will be used to pay off part of the players' and employees' debts for August and September, as well as the State Championship bonuses. Yesterday, 50% of the players' August salaries were paid. Next week, 50% for the same month will be paid to approximately 70 employees who have not yet received their salaries.
"Everything is on track with the board. We have no problems with the directors. The news that emerged during the week could have turned the fans against us, but it didn't," said Roger, who interrupted the press conference just to make the statement.
Sports Gazette
At Flamengo, the order is to value the fans' support
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Nearly 70 people – both paying and non-paying – were at the Maracanã stadium, helping Flamengo secure a crucial victory over São Paulo, the Brazilian Championship leader. The players made a point of thanking the crowd for their participation on Thursday night at the Maracanã stadium. "This support is wonderful," said defender Fábio Luciano, Flamengo's captain, still in the heat of the match. "It was a tough game, but the fans were packed. Congratulations to the team, too; we ran and fought. These are three points that will go down in history," added the visibly excited athlete.
Midfielder Ibson, who scored the winning goal, recalled feeling the thrill of savoring a Flamengo victory from the stands. "I've rooted for this team a lot, and I know it's a different feeling," he said.
In his team talk, coach Joel Santana made extensive use of the massive crowd at Maracanã Stadium to watch the match against leaders São Paulo. From the sidelines, he saw that his tactics were paying off.
"We have to emphasize the fans' support. This is why the players give their all on the field," admitted the Flamengo manager.
For Joel, Flamengo was far superior against leader São Paulo
São Paulo (SP) - Flamengo's excitement was hard to contain after their victory over São Paulo at the Maracanã. Coach Joel Santana praised his players' efforts on the field and noted his team's overwhelming superiority over the runaway Brazilian Championship leader. "Not to belittle São Paulo, which is the best in Brazil, but our team played much better, much better indeed. We didn't make the absurd mistakes of conceding silly, careless goals. Today the team was attentive and vibrant. Flamengo should always be like that," said the coach. "I was even expecting a tougher game," added Joel Santana.
After the final whistle, the players and coaching staff staged an impromptu celebration on the pitch for the positive result against Tricolor. "When you beat the favorite, of course you have to celebrate," cheered Joel Santana.
On the other hand, in terms of qualification, a victory over São Paulo is as valuable as any other in the Brazilian Championship. Joel Santana highlights the team's leap in the standings and the team's prospects of even challenging for a spot in the 2008 Copa Libertadores.
"The win is good because of the rivalry, because of what São Paulo represents, but the important thing was reaching 40 points. The competition is getting more complicated. For me, it was just another game," the coach concluded.
Ibson ends Tricolor's positive streak: 1-0 to Flamengo
São Paulo (SP) - After 16 matches, São Paulo once again tasted defeat in the Brazilian Championship. On Thursday night, the Tricolor suffered from a lack of inspiration and ended up defeated by Flamengo 1-0 at the Maracanã, with Ibson scoring early in the second half. As a result, they missed the chance to equal their longest unbeaten streak in the competition's history (17 games in 1973).\ Despite the loss, São Paulo remains comfortably at the top, with a 12-point lead (63 to 51) over Cruzeiro, who lost the previous day at home to Santos. Flamengo, meanwhile, climbs to tenth place with 40 points.\
In the next round, both teams will face classics. São Paulo plays Corinthians, while Flamengo faces Fluminense. Both matches are scheduled for Sunday.
Buoyed by the large crowd, Flamengo went all out against São Paulo. On the left flank, full-back Juan was the Rio de Janeiro team's main attacking option. Within five minutes, the home team created two chances, first from Maxi Biancucchi in the six-yard box and then from Souza, who even found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
After ten minutes, São Paulo calmed down the match and began to value possession. As a result, Flamengo lost its early momentum. Even so, the Rio de Janeiro team almost scored in the 26th minute, when Cristian's long-range shot hit Rogério Ceni's crossbar.
Just before halftime, both teams' performance dropped. São Paulo also lost midfielder Zé Luís, who suffered headaches after a collision with an opponent. Fernando replaced him. At the final whistle, Rogério Ceni acknowledged the opponent's superiority in the opening 45 minutes: "If I had to choose, Flamengo was a little better," he admitted.
But in the second half, Flamengo needed just five minutes to open the scoring. In a confusing play, the ball fell to Ibson in the box. The midfielder had only to tap it over Rogério to make it 1-0.
In the 19th minute, Muricy Ramalho called for Aloísio to replace Dagoberto. Shortly after, he opened up the team with Diego Tardelli replacing Jadilson. However, the team remained listless on the field, and not even Aloísio's header against the crossbar at the end prevented defeat to Flamengo.
Pele'Net
Brazil's largest audience sees Flamengo overtake leader São Paulo
From the Editorial Office\ In São Paulo\
In front of the largest crowd in the current Brazilian Championship (59.098 paying spectators), Flamengo was responsible for inflicting a defeat on leaders São Paulo after a 16-game unbeaten run. On Thursday night, at the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the Rio de Janeiro team defeated the São Paulo team 1-0, with a goal by Ibson.
FLA KNOCKS OUT SÃO PAULO'S SERIES
The Morumbi club's last defeat had also been to a Rio de Janeiro team: Fluminense. On July 18, in São Paulo, São Paulo lost 1-0, thanks to a penalty goal from striker Somália.
With this victory, coach Joel Santana's team maintains its strong record at Maracanã and moves further away from the relegation zone. Now with 40 points, Flamengo sits in tenth place.
São Paulo remains firmly in the lead with 63 points, 12 more than second-place Cruzeiro. Although the gap is already more than comfortable, coach Muricy Ramalho's team missed the chance to increase that lead to 15 points. That's because the Minas Gerais team lost to Santos last Wednesday.
Flamengo pressed hard from the start. The Rio de Janeiro team suffocated São Paulo in defense but failed to create any danger in the box. Cristian's best chances came from shots. His first from distance, in the 26th minute, hit Rogério Ceni's crossbar. The second, from the box, was saved by the goalkeeper.
"We created several chances, but we weren't able to score many goals," said right-back Leonardo Moura at halftime. "With the stadium packed like this, it was normal for them to come forward early in the game. We'll see how the team reacts in the second half," commented goalkeeper Rogério Ceni.
The Tricolor team struggled to create chances in the first half, so much so that they didn't threaten goalkeeper Bruno. In the 38th minute, the problem turned physical. Midfielder Zé Luis had to be replaced by Fernando after experiencing headaches.
In the second half, São Paulo's defense made it easy for Leonardo Moura to score at halftime. In the fourth minute, after a clash between the Tricolor defenders, the ball fell to Ibson in the penalty area. He skillfully slotted it past goalkeeper Rogério Ceni to open the scoring at Maracanã Stadium.
The goal gave Flamengo even more energy, and they maintained some pressure in the following minutes. São Paulo, for their part, felt the pressure and took a while to find their feet. And when they did, they failed to create any real danger. Aloísio's introduction gave the attack more momentum, but their shots remained scarce.
The best chance for an equalizer came in the 42nd minute, when Jorge Wagner took a corner from the left, Aloísio headed it and Bruno palmed it onto the crossbar.
Flamengo and São Paulo return to action in the Brazilian Championship next Sunday. Both teams have classic matches ahead of them. On Sunday, at 18:10 PM, Flamengo faces archrival Fluminense at Maracanã Stadium. On the same day, at 16 PM, Flamengo hosts Corinthians at Morumbi Stadium.
Ibson celebrates his return to Flamengo; Roger explains the controversy
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
After four rounds away from the team, midfielders Ibson and Roger returned to Flamengo's squad for the victory over São Paulo. The former, incidentally, was the hero of the match, scoring the winning goal.
After the match, the midfielder chose to dedicate the goal scored to the club's physiotherapists and the red-and-black fans, who filled the stadium and broke the record for paying attendance in the Brasileirão - 59.098.
"I'm very happy to be back scoring goals. I had a serious injury, but I'm grateful to Flamengo's physiotherapists, who spent more than a week with me," said Ibson.
"I also have to thank my family and the fans for their support, which was fantastic," added the midfielder, who started the match.
Midfielder Roger, who started on the bench, only came on in the 35th minute of the second half and showed a lack of game rhythm, missing easy passes.
However, even with his lackluster performance, the player went to the locker room to give an interview, more specifically to talk about the issue of late pay.
On the eve of the match against São Paulo, it was announced that the red-black squad was unhappy with the delay in their salaries and that there had been a meeting between the players, which was explained by Roger.
"We know the board's commitment to fulfilling its obligations. We know the difficulties Flamengo is facing. We only had one clarification that Fábio [Luciano], our captain, gave us. The president explained to him when he was going to pay us and everything was agreed," said the midfielder, before going on to praise the directors:
"We've come to clarify this now to say that everything is very well resolved with the board. When our president speaks, things happen," the player assured.
Joel says he expected a more difficult game against São Paulo
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
A smooth match for Flamengo. That's how coach Joel Santana described the red-and-black team's victory over São Paulo, the runaway leader of the Brazilian Championship.
Without wanting to provoke or belittle the São Paulo team, the coach stated that the 1-0 victory was easier than he imagined.
"Honestly, I expected a tougher game because of what São Paulo represents. I don't want to take away from São Paulo, which is the best team in Brazil, but we played much better," said the red-and-black manager.
According to Joel, the fans' support was crucial for the team to overcome the opponent and act aggressively, applying pressure from the first minute.
"The players and the fans came together and played as equals. We played a game they don't like, because we played just like them. We showed why we're winning at Maracanã," declared Joel, who concluded exultantly:
"We beat the leader and the runner-up [Cruzeiro] at Maracanã. That's all I wanted to say to you [journalists]."
Flamengo's next match will be at the Maracanã. Their opponent on Sunday, at 18:10 PM, will be Fluminense, in the round's derby in Rio de Janeiro.
Flamengo celebrates its title triumph over São Paulo
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
After Thursday's 1-0 victory over São Paulo at Maracanã Stadium, Flamengo's players celebrated the triumph as if they had won a title. After the referee blew the final whistle, the players embraced and demonstrated great enthusiasm for their victory over the Brazilian Championship leader.
"You play against the league leader and beat them. Of course, the players have to party and celebrate a lot, because in my opinion, São Paulo is already the champion," said coach Joel Santana after the game.
On Thursday night, the Brazilian Championship attendance record was broken. With nearly 60 fans, Flamengo fans helped the team secure its second consecutive victory in the competition and complete its fifth game without a loss.
"With a crowd like that, there's no way we can't play well at Maracanã. We have an obligation to perform well and respond to the fans," concluded the red-and-black coach.
In addition to beating the leader of the national competition, Flamengo broke São Paulo's 16-game unbeaten streak, which had not lost in the championship since July 18, when it was defeated by Fluminense, at Morumbi.
The Laranjeiras team is also Flamengo's next opponent. The Fla-Flu match will take place next Sunday at 18:10 pm at the Maracanã. In the first round, the red-and-black team prevailed, defeating their rival 1-0, with a goal scored by Argentine Maxi Biancucchi, who is out of the derby after receiving his third yellow card.
BalloonSport
Flamengo beats leaders São Paulo at the Maracanã
Ibson scores the winning goal and the red-black fans do their part in the stands
Marcio Iannacca
Flamengo defeated feared leaders São Paulo, who had lost only one away game (to Náutico), on Thursday night at Maracanã. With a goal from Ibson, the Rubro-Negro won 1-0 and, for the first time in this Brazilian Championship, entered the group of the top ten teams in the tournament and the qualifying zone for the Copa Sudamericana. Furthermore, the fans did their part in the stands and once again broke the competition's attendance record. More than 68 people were present at the stadium, and 59.098 paid for tickets (watch the goal in the video below).
With the result, Flamengo moved up three places to tenth place with 40 points. São Paulo remains in the lead with 63. In the next round, Flamengo will face Fluminense at Maracanã Stadium. São Paulo will face Corinthians at Morumbi Stadium. Both matches will be on Sunday.
Curious clashes in the initial stage
The first half was marked by São Paulo's greater possession and missed chances from Flamengo's attack. Ibson had one after just eight minutes. The defense saved the Tricolor. In the 25th minute, Cristian took a chance from outside the box, and the ball hit Rogério Ceni's crossbar. Furthermore, the duel between Dagoberto and Fábio Luciano, who clashed early in the first half, and Maxi and Alex Silva, the short man versus the giant, caught the attention of the fans at Maracanã.
The argument between Dagoberto and Fábio Luciano began after the striker faked a foul. The Tricolor player fell inside the box and asked for a penalty. The referee didn't call it. Flamengo gave their opponent a hard time, and the game continued. In the next play, the São Paulo player challenged the Red-Black player for the ball and let it fly. Another heated argument was quickly defused by referee Sérgio da Silva Carvalho, who scolded both men. And that was the end of the first half. Flamengo had a chance on one side and Tricolor dominated on the other.
Ibson guarantees Fla's three points
Fans pay tribute to Zico at Maracanã
And Flamengo returned to the second half as they had started: attacking. Joel Santana's team was rewarded for their initiative early in the second half. Four minutes in, Ibson capitalized on a misplaced clearance from the São Paulo defense to open the scoring. The goal galvanized the Flamengo fans, who packed the Maracanã stadium.
The red-and-black team continued to play better and had a chance to extend their lead. In the 10th minute, Ibson sent Maxi into the box. The Argentine got past a defender and, with his left foot, shot straight at Rogério Ceni. In the 16th minute, Cristian also had an opportunity. He received a beautiful pass from Leo Moura and wasted it.
Coach Muricy Ramalho put São Paulo on the attack by bringing on Aloísio and Diego Tardelli. The Tricolor began to dominate the midfield. In the 42nd minute, Bruno made a miraculous save, saving the team from a draw. Flamengo was playing on the counterattack. To correct the error, Joel brought on Leo Medeiros and Roger, who made a poor start. The player looked desperate and had a noticeable limp on his left leg. In the end, the Rubro-Negro secured three more points, and the fans celebrated with an adapted version of the "Victory Theme."
Flamengo's victory has title celebration
Triumph over the Brazilian league leader felt more like winning a cup for Rubro-Negro
Flamengo fans break new attendance record: 59.098 paying spectators at Maracanã
Players and coaching staff stood on the sidelines, calling for the match to be called off, and a wild celebration erupted in the stands. Flamengo's title? Not at all. The team defeated leaders São Paulo 1-0. The Red-Blacks had no shortage of grit, will, and determination, but their position in the Brasileirão required them to earn three more points in the competition.
For midfielder Ibson, the celebration was valid, as the fans have lived through the team's bad times and supported Flamengo in matches at Maracanã.
"We need to stay calm to beat Fluminense on Sunday. A win is important to earn points. Beating the leader in front of their fans is special. But we can't overdo it," says Ibson.
Defender and captain Fábio Luciano agreed with Ibson.
"We'll only celebrate until Friday. On Sunday, Fluminense is our new opponent," he says.
Maxi will miss the Fla derby
Striker receives a silly card and will not face Fluminense on Sunday
Striker Maxi Biancucchi made a mistake when he was substituted in Thursday's match against São Paulo at Maracanã. The Flamengo player was slow to leave the field and received his third yellow card. As a result, the Argentine will miss Sunday's derby against Fluminense, also at Maracanã.
Coach Joel Santana will have two days to choose a replacement for the starter. The coach has few options, as Obina is suspended by the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) and Paulo Sérgio remains out due to a collarbone problem. Therefore, Kayke, Leonardo, and Roger are competing for a spot in the starting lineup.
Players defend Fla's board
Roger, Ibson and Fábio Luciano deny meeting to discuss overdue salaries
Marcio Iannacca
Roger, Ibson, and Fábio Luciano deny that the team is behind on salaries. Roger, Ibson, and Fábio Luciano entered Flamengo's press room together after the 1-0 win over São Paulo. The three players denied reports that a meeting had been held to discuss the club's overdue salaries. The midfielder, who came on in the second half of Thursday's match, was responsible for sharing the squad's opinion.
"We're aware of the board's performance, especially our vice president, Kléber Leite. The meeting we had was a clarification for the younger players. Fábio Luciano, our captain, was summoned by the board to learn about the salary situation and conveyed the board's idea of staggering the payments. The group accepted the idea," says the Flamengo midfielder.
The player described the information from the meeting as dangerous. According to him, a loss to São Paulo could jeopardize the coaching staff's plans and trigger a negative reaction from the fans.
"It was a dangerous game because of everything that was discussed during the week. If our team loses, the connotation of the meeting could create a problem for the group," Roger analyzes.
Roger practically out of Fla-Flu
The red-black midfielder regrets having felt the injury in his first play of the match this Thursday
Marcio Iannacca
Flamengo midfielder Roger admitted to GLOBOESPORTE.COM that he felt a recurrence of an injury to the back of his left thigh. Shortly after coming on in Thursday's match against São Paulo (watch the highlights of Flamengo's victory in the video below), the player appeared desperate on the pitch, constantly touching his face.
"I was really sorry. I went for a sprint right at the start and felt the same thigh injury. I missed two silly passes, just to avoid forcing myself," explains midfielder Roger.
The player, who was briefly in the press room, has already begun treatment. Roger left the Maracanã stadium with two electrodes on his left thigh. This Friday, he will undergo an imaging test to determine the severity of the injury. He is expected to miss Sunday's derby against Fluminense.
"It's going to be difficult to play on Sunday. We'll wait for the test results," says the player.
Juan dedicates victory to Flamengo fans
Full-back celebrates winning three more points in the Brazilian Championship
Left-back Juan dedicated Thursday's 1-0 victory over São Paulo at Maracanã to Flamengo fans. The player believes the Flamengo fans' massive attendance was crucial to securing the three points. "This victory is for them. The fans came out and helped us once again," Juan said.
The player didn't repeat his strong performances from recent matches, but he was important for the red-and-black team. He is Flamengo's top scorer in the Brasileirão, with five goals.
Brazil's shirt is the most beautiful in history
The election was conducted by the Times Online website. Flamengo's jersey appears in 48th place.
The Brazilian national team's 70 shirt was voted the most beautiful in history
The Times Online, one of England's most traditional websites, selected the 50 most beautiful uniforms in history. The 1970 Brazilian national team's jersey was the winner, beating out traditional rivals like Real Madrid's 1960, Argentina's 1978, England's 1966, and Flamengo, which finished 48th. The analysis also took into account the quality of the teams and the stars who wore those uniforms, adding a touch of flair to the selection.
To choose the Brazilian national team, the website took into account the bold uniform style. At the time, the Brazilian Sports Confederation, now the CBF, decided to use a color combination (yellow, green, blue, and white) that had every chance of failing due to the standard of the images used in the broadcast of the 1970 World Cup matches. However, no team in the World Cup performed better, in the Times' opinion.
Joel: 'We play as equals'
Coach praises São Paulo, but says the team knew how to contain the opponent's momentum
Marcio Iannacca
Coach Joel Santana praised his team's performance in Thursday's 1-0 victory over São Paulo at Maracanã Stadium. All week, the coach had been saying the match would be decided by the details, as it turned out. For him, Flamengo knew how to neutralize their rival (watch the highlights in the video below).
"The players and fans' behavior was wonderful. We played an even match. They don't like this kind of game, when an opponent comes out on top. When they faced Botafogo, they faced the team with the best ball possession in the Brazilian league. They're the most competitive and won. This time, we played like them," analyzes Joel Santana.
Joel took the opportunity to praise the spirit of the more than 60 thousand red-black fans who attended Maracanã.
"With a crowd like this, we have no right not to take the field with passion, desire, and determination. They (the red-and-blacks) were very important to our team," says the coach.
Ticket confusion at Maracanã
Police are forced to act around the stadium to contain fans at the ticket offices
Hundreds of Flamengo fans left buying tickets for the match against São Paulo at the Maracanã stadium at the last minute. Police were forced to intervene to prevent fights around the stadium.
Due to the excessive number of red-and-black fans, there was a lot of confusion at the ticket offices, leaving fans afraid to enter the stadium. Traffic on the streets near Maracanã became congested.
Flamengo's board expects the match against São Paulo to break the Brazilian Championship attendance record.
Fla-Flu will no longer be at Maracanãzinho
The Rio de Janeiro classic changes location and time and will be played at the Tijuca Tennis Club, at 11 am
The classic at Tijuca Tennis Club marks Marcelinho's debut at Fla
Sunday is Fla-Flu day on the field and court. On the field, Flamengo and Fluminense face off in the Brazilian Football Championship at 18:10 p.m. at Maracanã. On the hardwood, the rivals will play in the Carioca Basketball Championship. However, the game scheduled for Maracanãzinho has had its location and time changed: it will be played at Tijuca Tênis Clube at 11 a.m.
The measure was taken for security reasons. The Special Stadium Policing Group (GEPE) considered that there could be problems with holding the two matches at similar times (basketball at 15 PM and soccer at 18 PM).
The match at Tijuca Tênis Clube will mark the debut of winger Marcelinho Machado in a Flamengo jersey. He will play alongside his brother Duda and, off the court, will be accompanied by another brother, the club's physiotherapist Ricardo.
The father of the three red-blacks explains the change:
- The decision to change the match location was taken by the clubs after a meeting with SUDERJ and the Military Police, in order to avoid possible clashes between fans of the two teams inside and outside the Maracanã Complex - explains Renê Machado, superintendent of Olympic sports at Fluminense.
Basketball tickets
Tijuca Tennis Club
Ticket: R$10 full price / R$5 half price (three thousand tickets will be on sale).
Throw
Flamengo beats São Paulo under the 'Victory Theme'
With a record attendance, Rubro-Negro defeats the Brazilian league leader 1-0
Ibson was sovereign in midfield and scored the winning goal (Credit: Cléber Mendes)
Cassius Leitao
Flamengo faced São Paulo this Thursday at the Maracanã, defeating the Brasileirão leader. They won 1-0 to the delight of the red-and-black crowd, which broke a record attendance (59.098 paying fans) and celebrated to the sound of "Theme of Victory," the Flamengo fans' new hit. With the result, the Rio de Janeiro club reached 40 points (tenth place), moved well away from the relegation zone, and is already aspiring to a spot in the 2008 Copa Libertadores. Tricolor remains firmly in the lead, 12 points ahead of second-place Cruzeiro.
The Rubro-Negro started the match bolder, and São Paulo relied on the strength of its defense to maintain the balance. Early on, the Rio de Janeiro team made two strong runs to open the scoring. In the first, Souza led a counterattack, released Juan, and ran into the box to receive. The cross was mid-height, and the São Paulo defense cleared it for a corner.
Then, after the penalty, Souza pounced on the rebound and finished for Rogério Ceni's goal. However, the Flamengo forward was caught offside, and the goal was disallowed. São Paulo threatened for the first time with Dagoberto, who narrowly missed scoring an Olympic goal.
In the 17th minute, a questionable play. Borges passed to Dagoberto, who burst into the box and fell, calling for a penalty from Fábio Luciano. The referee allowed play to continue, and the red-and-black captain even yelled at his opponent, who allegedly faked the foul.
Flamengo narrowly missed a goal on a fortuitous occasion. Cristian took a long-range shot that hit the crossbar. From then on, the goalkeepers were rarely threatened, and the score remained 0-0 until halftime.
The red-and-black momentum continued into the second half. It didn't take long for the home team to score a goal through pure luck. The São Paulo defense clashed heads, and the ball fell to Ibson, who skillfully chipped the ball over the bar, past Rogério Ceni.
Rubro-Negro nearly extended their lead. Ibson launched a fast counterattack and found Maxi. The Argentine striker burst into the box, cut inside defender André Dias, but fired a weak left-footed shot into the goalkeeper's hands.
São Paulo only got past midfield in the 13th minute and still nearly scored. Borges took a shot from outside the box, the ball deflected off Rômulo and narrowly missed Bruno.
The advantage eased Flamengo's pressure, which began to retreat and give São Paulo more space to play. Fortunately for coach Joel Santana, the São Paulo players weren't particularly inspired. The tricolor's best chance fell to Diego Tardelli, who mistimed a shot after a good play by Aloísio.
Jorge Wágner also threatened with a free kick, but Bruno saved. In the final minutes, Aloísio hit the post with a beautiful header after a miracle from Bruno. However, it was too little to prevent the red-and-black victory, which relied on the strength of its fans to leave the field with the three points it fully deserved.
Ibson gets emotional when talking about the victory
Supporter returned to the red-black team after four games and was decisive
After four games out due to a left ankle injury suffered in the loss to Internacional, midfielder Ibson returned to the Flamengo squad and was instrumental in helping the Red-Blacks overtake leaders São Paulo this Thursday. With a classy touch, he scored the only goal of the game.
In the supporter's opinion, the importance of this match and the strength of the fans were crucial to the victory.
"We knew the win was crucial for us. Now we can breathe a little easier. In front of Flamengo fans, scoring the winning goal against the leader is indescribable. I don't even have anything to say," Ibson revealed.
Fábio Luciano praises the energy of the fans
For the defender, the strength coming from the stands was decisive for the victory
Flamengo's 1-0 victory over leaders São Paulo filled its captain, Fábio Luciano, with pride, having routinely defeated the Tricolor Paulista. For the defender, the fans were crucial this Thursday in helping the Rubro-Negro leave the field with all three points.
"It's a huge motivation. It's great to see Maracanã like this. The smiles of each fan make us feel so good when we leave the stadium," he declared.
However, Fábio Luciano made a point of emphasizing that nothing is won and that Flamengo is still at risk of relegation. Therefore, he adds, they must focus on Sunday's derby against Fluminense at Maracanã.
"We'll only celebrate this victory until this Friday. From then on, we have to focus on Fluminense. It will be a very difficult derby," he admitted.
Cristian considers Flamengo's victory fair
Midfielder warns that São Paulo created few chances in the match
Midfielder Cristian, the hero of Flamengo's victory last Saturday over Atlético-MG, was emphatic when speaking about how much Flamengo deserved to defeat São Paulo this Thursday, 1-0 at Maracanã.
For the player, the initial pressure from Rubro-Negro intimidated Tricolor Paulista.
"If we analyze the game with our heads on straight, São Paulo only had one chance. We put pressure on São Paulo and deserved the win," he added.
Kleberson is at Maraca to give strength
Newly signed by Flamengo, the supporter will be present against São Paulo
LANCEPRESS!
The big game between Flamengo and São Paulo at Maracanã doesn't just feature prominent figures on the field. Off the field, one of the stars was supporter Kleberson, who recorded a SporTV show at Maracanã and stayed at the stadium to cheer on his new club.
Another person who was present was four-time champion Leonardo, who had a notable stint at both clubs and never hid his affection for the Rubro-Negro from Rio and the Tricolor from São Paulo.
Flamengo pays part of the overdue salaries
Half of August's salary is paid to players this Thursday
In an attempt to maintain peace within the Flamengo group, the red-black board managed to approve in the Board of Directors the authorization to use in stages the approximately R$11 million that it has to receive until December from the contract with Petrobras.
This amount will be used to pay off part of the debt owed to players and employees, which includes the months of August and September, in addition to the prize money for the Carioca title and victories in the Brasileirão.
This Thursday, the board paid 50% of the players' August salaries. This Friday, it will pay 50% of the same month's salaries to the approximately 70 employees who had not yet been paid—only those earning up to R$1,8 had received them.