THE GLOBE
Fla loses its head and the leadership
The team is thrashed by Nacional (3-0). Toró and Léo Moura are sent off for assault.
Photo caption: AFTER goalkeeper Bruno's mistake, the ball falls to striker Richard Morales to shoot and open the scoring for Nacional
Carlos Eduardo Mansur
A new trauma in Uruguay. It was in Montevideo in 2007 that Flamengo began its downfall in the Libertadores, losing 3-0 to Defensor Sporting. Yesterday, Flamengo lost its way in the Uruguayan capital, losing the match to Nacional, also 3-0, and taking the lead in Group 4 of the Libertadores at Parque Central Stadium. Besides playing poorly, the team made things easier for its opponent with two red cards. After the first goal, Toró brought down a ball boy and received a red card. Leonardo Moura was also sent off precisely for hitting a Uruguayan player in the ribs with a kick. Fábio Luciano even kicked a downed opponent in the face, but the referee didn't see it.
Nacional is the new leader with six points. Flamengo has four and needs to earn at least one point at the 3.360-meter altitude of Cuzco, Peru, on April 9th against Cienciano (three points) to avoid a difficult situation. Before that, they host Nacional on the 19th at Maracanã. Cienciano and Coronel Bolognesi (one point) play on Tuesday.
The red-and-blacks had chances to score, but failed to finish effectively. In the 10th minute, Kleberson shot straight at the goalkeeper. In the 11th minute, Juan took a long-range shot, but the ball deflected and nearly fooled Viera.
In the 19th minute, the towering Richard Morales, standing at 1,95'22", passed to Bertolo, who headed the ball past Bruno. Morales fired over the rebound. The home team began to enjoy the game. In the XNUMXnd minute, Vitorino, standing on the penalty spot, shot wide. Three minutes later, Diego Tardelli wasted his chance from the edge of the box, shooting straight at the goalkeeper.
While Nacional had the giant Richard Morales up front, back in goal, the diminutive 1,75'37" Viera did what he could. At XNUMX, Souza almost surprised him by catching him out of position with a header. But the goalkeeper was alert.
Flamengo was the one who ended up being surprised. In the 40th minute, Ibson misplaced a pass, and Romero controlled it and shot from distance. Goalkeeper Bruno failed to control the ball, sending it back into the middle of the box, where Morales was. Unmarked, the striker didn't even need to use his full height to fire home.
Trailing on the scoreboard, Flamengo raced to equalize. But haste proved their enemy. In the 42nd minute, Toró went to retrieve the ball from the sidelines, but he pushed the ball boy, knocking him to the ground, and was sent off. Three minutes later, Fábio Luciano kicked a downed opponent in the face and deserved a red card.
After halftime, Joel Santana took off Diego Tardelli and brought on Marcinho. The substitution had no effect, and the team remained nervous. In the 5th minute, Leonardo Moura, already on a yellow card, hit a Uruguayan player in the ribs and was also sent off.
Last victory in the country was 13 years ago
With nine players, conceding a second goal was only a matter of time. In the 22nd minute, Bruno failed to clear a corner kick and cleared the ball poorly again. In the rebound, Morales picked up the rebound again and shot to extend the lead. A minute later, Fornali took a free kick from the edge of the box; the ball deflected off the wall, eluding Bruno, and into the corner. After the goal, Fornali celebrated with his arm around a ball boy.
Flamengo hasn't won in Uruguay in 13 years. The last time was in 1995, against Nacional. Since then, they've played six games and lost six, conceding 19 goals.
Nacional: Viera, Acosta, Victorino, Barone and Romero; Oscar, Morales; Cardaccio, Arismendi (Ligüera) and Bertolo, Fornaroli (Perrone) and Morales (Pereyra). Flamengo: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Fabio Luciano Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Cristian, Ibson, Toró and Kleberson (Jaílton); Diego Tardelli (Marcinho) and Souza (Jônatas). Referee: Pablo Pozo (Chile) Yellow cards: Leonardo Moura, Ibson, Bertolo, Angelim. Red cards: Toró and Leonardo Moura.
LIBERTADORES: Joel and Kleber Leite choose midfielder as the villain of the embarrassment
Regretful, Toró says he will apologize to the Flamengo team
Player acknowledges his mistake and thinks it's fair to be held responsible for the defeat
Photo caption: DISTRESSED, Flamengo players lower their heads after conceding another goal to Nacional in the 3-0 rout at Parque Central
Photo caption: GANDULA NICOLAS Dominguez passes in front of Joel Santana
Carlos Eduardo Mansur
MONTEVIDEO. It's never been easier to choose the villain of a defeat. In the Flamengo locker room after the game, coach Joel Santana and vice-president of football Kleber Leite, each in their own way, didn't think twice before choosing Toró's childish expulsion as the beginning of the team's downfall in Uruguay. For pushing 13-year-old ball boy Nicolas Dominguez, he was punished with a red card. Head down, Toró admitted his mistake.
"I think it's fair that they hold me accountable. I'm sorry and intend to apologize to the team. I don't know if the team would have been able to react, but I made a mistake," he said at the hotel.
Toró said that, when he was going to get the ball to beat the throw-in, the ball boy held the ball:
"Anyway, I shouldn't have pushed him. Uruguay definitely doesn't bring back good memories for me."
The player himself recalled that, in 2006, in Montevideo, where Flamengo was playing a friendly against Nacional, he fought with his former teammate Renato.
"On Wednesday, I broke the glass in the hotel elevator. And today (yesterday) this happened in the game," he added, forgetting that, in the preseason, he was called a monkey during a training match against Huracan Buceo, from Uruguay.
On the eve of the match, Joel Santana said in interviews that the Brazilian player had to learn to deal with provocations in the Libertadores.
"Toró was hasty, he lacked a bit of emotional balance. The boy (ball boy) held the ball, and Toró shouldn't have done that. It's a learning experience for us Brazilians. No matter how much we talk, things happen during the game," said Joel.
Kleber Leite stated that he does not intend to fine Toró, but agreed that the 21-year-old player lacked maturity:
"It's a match that will forever be remembered in his career and will serve as a lesson. A little more common sense never hurt anyone. To play for Flamengo, you need a minimum of maturity."
Toró's example was used to try to explain what the team lacked.
"We weren't mature, and we were punished. We'll get our revenge on the field, playing football," Kleber said.
Regarding the possibility of having to fight for points at the altitude of Cuzco, the director was emphatic.
"You can't just keep counting. You have to always be in it to win," he said.
Leonardo Moura came to the defense of the team and himself, who was sent off in the second half:
"It's normal for nerves to be on edge. Nobody likes losing to a team that plays dirty. The red cards were unfair. On my play, I went for the high ball, and the player got in front."
Ball boy pushed by Toró becomes celebrity
While Flamengo was pulling Toró's ears, Nicolas Dominguez was enjoying a day in the spotlight. The 13-year-old ball boy, who was pushed by the Brazilian, even answered his cell phone on the field after appearing on TV. A player in the club's youth teams, he denied any provocation.
"I didn't do anything. When the ball went out, I ran slowly. He (Toró) came running and pushed me. And some players cursed at me afterwards," Dominguez said.
Renato Mauricio Prado
The absolute psychological unpreparedness demonstrated by Flamengo's players against Nacional in Montevideo is deplorable.
Toró's stupid attack on the ball boy at the end of the first half was unjustifiable, as was Leonardo Moura's high foot (in the rival's ribs) at the start of the second half.
And Flamengo only didn't end up with eight players because the referee didn't see Fábio Luciano leave his boot in the face of his fallen opponent in the final minutes of the first half. A complete disaster!
Kleberson and Diego Tardelli didn't play well. They were barely visible on the field. And Ibson and Bruno made terrible mistakes on the first goal.
Now, Flamengo will have to win both of its home games and earn at least one point, way up there on the mountain, against Cienciano. Otherwise, it will have to pray that Colonel Bolognesi (the group's sycophant) still takes a point from someone...
SPORTS JOURNAL
With two less, Fla is run over by Nacional (Uru)
Livia Andrade landrade@jsports.com.br
Morales scored the first two goals in Uruguay's victory
In the third round of Group 4 of the Copa Libertadores, Flamengo struggled, losing 3-0 to Nacional (Uru) in Montevideo. Playing most of the match with nine men, coach Joel Santana's team started well, but nervousness led to the defeat.
Nacional started the first half with dangerous attacks in the Flamengo box, but without creating any significant scoring chances. Ten minutes in, Flamengo decided to retaliate. Juan fired a powerful shot from outside the box, deflecting off the defense and heading toward the middle of the goal. Nacional's number 1 was nearly fooled, but came out to make a good save.
The Uruguayan team nearly opened the scoring in the 20th minute. The ball was lofted into the Flamengo box, forward Richard Morales headed it, and Bertolo was one-on-one with Bruno, who made the save. Morales slotted the rebound over.
In the 25th minute, Tardelli missed a good chance. Souza found the striker in the middle, the player shook off Barone and fired a weak shot into the middle of the goal, which Viera made a comfortable save. A few minutes later, it was Nacional's turn. Fornaroli took a good free kick, and Bruno came out to make a fine save in the left corner.
Souza narrowly missed the goal. Kleberson advanced down the right and sent a header to Souza, but Viera saved it with his fingertips in the 36th minute.
At the end of the first half, Nacional's pressure paid off, and in the 39th minute, Morales scored the first goal of the match. Ibson misplaced the pass as he was leaving the ball, and Romero fired a powerful shot from distance. Bruno saved it, and striker Richard Morales put the rebound into the back of the net.
At 42, the ball boy stalled, and Toró lost his temper and attacked him. The player was sent off, leaving Flamengo out of action. Early in the second half, it was Léo Moura's turn to be sent off. The full-back kicked his opponent in the ribs, leaving Mengão with nine men.
Coach Joel Santana's team appeared nervous on the field and began resorting to harsh fouls, while Nacional continued to press. In the 22nd minute, Nacional extended their lead. After a corner, Bruno came out of goal poorly, and the ball fell to Fornaroli. The midfielder shot straight at the goalkeeper. The rebound fell to Morales, who scored again for the Uruguayan team. 2-0.
Just a minute after the second goal, Fornaroli scored the third. The player took a free kick from the edge of the box, at mid-height, the ball deflected off the defense and deceived Bruno. 3-0.
Following this result, Flamengo sits in second place in Group 4, while Nacional takes the lead. Flamengo's next match will be on March 19th, against Nacional, at the Maracanã stadium.
Game Character: Toró
Even with the goal conceded in the 40th minute of the first half, given the tight match, Flamengo had every chance of a comeback. They did. What decided the match wasn't Morales' and Fornaroli's goals, but rather Toró's childish red card, after he clashed with the ball boy and ended any chance of a red-and-black comeback.
For everything that playing in the Copa Libertadores represents, it is unforgivable that a professional player should be sent off in such an unusual and irresponsible manner.
Toró, who had been one of Flamengo's standout performers at the start of the season, may have turned into a villain in just 42 minutes. Even with the entire team responsible for yesterday's defeat, Toró blew away any chance of Flamengo silencing Parque Central Stadium in just a few seconds.
Kleber criticizes Toró and relieves Léo Moura
Immediately after the match, the talk of the Flamengo locker room was the performance of referee Pablo Pozo of Chile. Vice president of football Kleber Leite said that right-back Léo Moura's sending-off was too harsh. However, the manager also criticized supporter Toró.
"Toró's sending off will be remembered for his career, and I'm sure it won't happen again. I just think the referee was a bit harsh in sending off Léo Moura, especially since he's not a violent player," said Kleber Leite, who considered the supporter's behavior immature for a Flamengo player: "Toró lacked maturity. He was warned before the game. Eighty percent of our team talk was focused on keeping a level head. But there's no point in complaining. We'll have another game at Maracanã, with every chance of winning. I hope the players have a little more common sense. We can't just leave things to chance like we did," Kleber added.
At home
Léo Moura did not want to talk about his expulsion and warned that nothing is lost, because at Maracanã, Flamengo will come out victorious.
"At home, I'm sure Flamengo will win. Nothing is lost. This year, we've been winning games at Maracanã. In moments like these, everyone supports each other. Now, we know it's time to lift our heads. We lost an away game, and with a win in Rio, we'll get past Nacional," said the full-back.
Uruguayan fans show excitement
While Flamengo fans were getting angry in the bars spread across the city of Rio de Janeiro, the few more than 200 who showed up at the Parque Central Stadium in Montevideo cheered and tried to push the team until the last minute of the match.
Making a lot of noise, the fans who had a lot of problems throughout the trip to Uruguay, often ended up making more noise than the Uruguayan crowd, especially in the first half.
Very creative, Flamengo fans invented chants and gave a special color to the stands of the stadium where the first World Cup match was held, in 1930.
New song
The Brazilians stood next to the stadium's grandstand and sang along. Besides the now-traditional "Vamos para cima eles Mengo!" (Let's go over them, Mengo!), the song of the moment in Uruguay was a new version of the song based on the Botafogo chant.
"And no one can silence this crying/ Peñarol cries/ Nacional cries/ Defensor cries."
Despite these fans' efforts, the team's nervousness prevented them from leaving the stadium happy. Their complaints were directed at the referee, Toró, and coach Joel Santana.
Excitement gives way to revolt
Fans do their part, suffer and go home complaining about everything and everyone
Nathan de Lima and Pedro Chiaverini
Nina Lima/JS
The defeat left Flamengo fans speechless.
Flamengo fans who didn't make it to Uruguay did their part. At a traditional bar in the South Zone, near the club's headquarters, a group gathered to watch their favorite team. However, after much excitement at the start of the match, this feeling eventually turned to frustration.
After all, Flamengo suffered another regrettable defeat in Uruguay. Furthermore, there was one unanimous consensus: midfielder Jônatas should have been included from the start. At halftime, the fans were angry. However, even with Flamengo trailing 1-0, they were confident.
"Toró killed the game. We have to bring Marcinho and Jônatas back for the second half. We'll turn it around," said medical student Gabriel Garcez, flanked by his friends Diogo, Daniel, and Márcio.
Little fan Vítor, 11, also gave his opinion and revealed a secret:
"The team is doing well, what's missing is Leonardo Moura showing up more. I was a Vasco fan, but my godmother told me that if I didn't become a Flamengo fan, I wouldn't get any more presents. I didn't even think twice," he said.
After seeing Joel's team suffer a humiliating defeat, the fans were completely outraged. The main targets of their anger were Toró, Chilean referee Pablo Pozo, coach Joel Santana, and the ball boy who caused Toró's ejection.
Fan Bernardo, who watched the match alongside his Tricolor friend Marcos Paulo, seemed in disbelief:
"It's hard to say what went wrong. We can't afford to slip up in a competition like the Libertadores," lamented Bernardo.
Consultant Dênis, 30, went further.
"That referee is a Botafogo fan! I'm waiting for those Uruguayans here at Maracanã and I want them to bring that ball boy along," said the indignant fan.
THE DAY
Fla is defeated 3-0 by Nacional, from Uruguay
Genilson Junior
Montevideo - Flamengo was defeated 3-0 by Uruguay's Nacional in a lopsided performance by almost the entire Flamengo team. In the 42nd minute of the first half, Toró received a red card for pushing a ball boy, with the team already trailing 1-0. Just five minutes into the second half, Léo Moura, who already had a yellow card, was sent off after a high-footed challenge on his Uruguayan opponent.
Nacional started the game pressing. It wasn't until the 10th minute that Flamengo threatened, with a cross-shot from Kleberson deflected for a corner. A minute later, Juan scared goalkeeper Vieira with a long-range shot.
In the 20th minute, goalkeeper Bruno saved Uruguay's first goal. The game was back and forth, but neither team could find a good shot to open the scoring. Uruguay kept falling offside, making play difficult.
In the 37th minute, Kleberson crossed and Souza headed, goalkeeper Vieira stretched out and put the ball out for a corner, in Fla's best chance of the entire match.
Three minutes later, Uruguay scored. Bruno rebounded a beautiful shot from outside the box, and on the return, Richard Morales beat the defense to the net. 1-0 Nacional.
Shortly after scoring, Toró became irritated with a ball boy off the field, and referee Pablo Pozo sent off the Flamengo player. Flamengo lost control of their nerves in the match, and defender Fábio Luciano kicked the Uruguayan player in the face before halftime.
Flamengo returned with Marcinho in place of Diego Tardelli, but the red-and-black team's nervousness continued. Léo Moura, five minutes into the match, received a red card for a kick to the opponent's stomach.
Nacional capitalized on their two extra players and scored their second. After Bruno's poor clearance and a rebound in the box, Richard Morales, once again, capitalized to make it 2-0 in the 21st minute.
Two minutes later, Uruguay scored their third goal. Fábio Luciano committed a foul on the edge of the box. Fornaroli's shot was deflected off the wall to make it 3-0 for Nacional.
To avoid a rout, Joel reinforced the team's defense and took off Souza for Jônatas. Goalkeeper Bruno was by far the best player for the red-and-black team in the match, having prevented at least three other scoring opportunities for Nacional.
The two teams face off again on the 19th at Maracanã Stadium in the next round of Group 4 of the Copa Libertadores. Nacional leads the group with 6 points, while Flamengo is in second place with 4. Both teams have played one game more than Cienciano and Coronel Bolognesi.
Toró, the target of criticism
Rio - Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, harshly criticized the team's lack of maturity, especially Toró, who was sent off in the first half for pushing a ball boy. "We paid the price for our lack of balance. We lacked maturity and composure. A little more common sense wouldn't hurt anyone," the director said in an interview with Rádio Globo.
The manager commented specifically on Toró: "To play for Flamengo, you need maturity; you can't leave anything to chance. This misfortune will be etched on his career. During the pre-match talk, 80% of the conversation was about dirty tricks and the need to remain calm during the game." Kléber Leite, however, did not confirm whether Toró will be fined.
Joel Santana also didn't hide his discontent. "We talked, we showed videos, and all this happened. It was regrettable," criticized the coach, who believes that with 10 or 11 points the team will qualify: "It could have been even worse. Now, our obligation is to win at home and also get a point away, in the altitude of Cuzco."
The team returns to the field in the Libertadores to face Nacional, on the 19th, at Maracanã, without Toró and Leonardo Moura, who will serve suspensions.
Leonardo Moura even had the courage to question the red cards after the game. "Toró didn't deserve the sending off, as he was just trying to take the ball away from the ball boy, which was slowing down the game. In my case, I was challenged," the right-back tried to explain. The player believes the team will bounce back in the Libertadores: "Let this be a lesson. We'll hold our heads high and win at the Maracanã."
The team stayed in Montevideo and returns to Rio tonight. Sunday, the team will face Americano at 16 p.m. at Maracanã in the second round of the Taça Rio. Joel Santana will field a mixed lineup and may even use Toró and Leonardo Moura, as both were sent off in the tournament.
Red-black disappointment in the bars
Martha Esteves
Rio - It had all the makings of a fun night. Before heading to work, 42-year-old security guard Josué da Silva put on his Flamengo jersey and shorts and headed to the Amarelinho bar in Cinelândia. He wanted to watch his team play Nacional in Montevideo on one of the four plasma TVs scattered around the bar, which nearly broke its attendance record yesterday.
But Josué, who was expecting a historic victory, left the bar hot-headed, already expecting the teasing of his friends, members of the "rainbow" fan club. Travel agent Leandro Sales, meanwhile, went to work wearing the red-and-black jersey and knows full well what awaits him today.
"There's no way around it. The team wasn't bad, but they had a terrible second half. Now I'll have to put up with opponents making fun of me. Football is like that: one day you mess with someone, and the next day you get messed with," says Leandro, using barroom philosophy.
Banker Juliano Lara, 27, had reason to be even more upset. After all, he'd rushed to make it in time to see the game with his friends at Cinelândia. He left São Cristóvão, picked up his 7-year-old son, Lucas, in Piedade, and headed downtown. All that rushing around ended in disappointment for him and exhaustion for Lucas.
Despite his favorite team's loss, can collector, street vendor, and shoe shiner Rafael Ferreira, known as Galo, made a few bucks. A resident of Providência, he scoured bars with TVs and fans around to try to make some extra cash.
"I'm sad about Mengão's loss, but I collected a lot of cans. People were drinking to cheer themselves up. After the game, they drank even more to forget the loss. That's better for me," he joked. No crying.
SPORTS GAZETTE
Nervous, Flamengo loses and gets olé in Uruguay\ Gazeta Press\
Montevideo (Uruguay) - Flamengo suffered the first defeat by a Brazilian club in the 2008 Copa Libertadores. Playing this Thursday in Montevideo, the Guanabara Cup champions were no match for Nacional of Uruguay and ended up losing 3-0, with a good portion of the second half playing olé. With the result, the Brazilian team lost the lead in Group 4 to the Uruguayan team, which now has six points, while Flamengo finished second in the group with four points.
Besides playing poorly, Flamengo was also hampered by the behavior of its players. Midfielder Toró was sent off for assaulting a ball boy shortly after the team conceded its first goal, and right-back Leonardo Moura ended any chance of a comeback by receiving a red card early in the second half for kicking an opponent after receiving his first yellow card two minutes into the match.
This resulted in the team's defeat to Brazil in the current edition. Prior to that, Flamengo, Cruzeiro, São Paulo, Santos, and Fluminense played 13 matches, winning eight and drawing five.
Furthermore, the Rio de Janeiro club is the only Brazilian team not leading its group. This week, only São Paulo, currently the leader in Group 7, is at risk of losing its place, as it could be overtaken by Sportivo Luqueño, who will face Nacional Medellín this Friday morning.
Flamengo now turns its attention to the Rio Cup and will face Americano this Sunday at the Maracanã. In the Copa Libertadores, the team won't play again until March 19, when it hosts Nacional at the Maracanã.
The Game: Flamengo started the match wanting to show the Uruguayans that they were willing to play hardball if necessary. As a result, just two minutes in, Leonardo Moura received a yellow card for a violent foul on a Uruguayan forward. The home team, as expected, went on the attack, and goalkeeper Bruno had to intervene in the fourth and fifth minutes to prevent Nacional from opening the scoring.
The Uruguayan team pressed, and Flamengo struggled to break the pressure and mount counterattacks. From the tenth to the twentieth minute, the Brazilian team managed to level the score, but Nacional soon regained the initiative. In the twentieth minute, Bruno again made a significant impact on a header from Fornaroli.
Flamengo created its first significant chance six minutes later, when Diego Tardelli eluded his marker and fired a shot straight at goalkeeper Vieira. The move didn't faze Nacional, who once again forced Bruno into another good save from Fornaroli's shot in the 33rd minute. Flamengo, which had enormous difficulty getting forward, only threatened again in the 38th minute, with a header from Souza, which forced Vieira to stretch to save.
Two minutes later, Nacional scored their first goal. Romero fired a powerful cross-shot, Bruno rebounded, and Richard Morales quickly swooped in to collect the rebound and put the ball in the net. In the 44th minute, midfielder Toró lost his temper and attacked a ball boy, earning a red card, leaving Flamengo with only ten men. Until the end of the first half, the Brazilian team simply defended itself, never again threatening the Uruguayan team.
The red-and-black team returned with Marcinho in place of Diego Tardelli in an attempt by Joel to bolster the midfield, which had been weakened by Toró's sending-off. But the coach didn't even have time to determine if the change was working. Five minutes in, Leonardo Moura kicked Romero in the back and was also sent off, leaving the Rio de Janeiro team with only nine players.
With few options to rebuild the team, Flamengo's coach replaced Kléberson with Jailton, but was unable to contain Uruguay's momentum. Goalkeeper Bruno was the one doing his best to prevent a bigger scoreline. The goalkeeper saved a Vitorino header in the ninth minute, but ended up making a mistake on Nacional's second goal, scored in the 21st minute. He misjudged the cross, and Morales, once again, took advantage of the confusion to put the ball in the net.
In the 23rd minute, Morales was brought down just outside the box. Fornaroli took the shot, the ball deflected off Marcinho and deceived Bruno, sealing the victory for the hosts. With the match lost, Joel took off Souza, who was producing little, and brought on defensive midfielder Jônatas to avoid a catastrophic result.
And they ultimately succeeded, as Nacional preferred to exchange passes to the delight of their enthusiastic fans, who chanted "olé," while Flamengo hoped the game would end before the embarrassment became worse. In the 40th minute, Bruno made another great save to prevent the fourth goal.
In the wake of defeat, Flamengo awaits revenge
Montevideo (Uruguay) - In the wake of defeat, Flamengo awaits revenge. Still reeling from the impact of the 3-0 loss to Nacional de Montevidéu, Flamengo, represented by full-back Leonardo Moura and coach Joel Santana, expressed disappointment with the Copa Libertadores defeat, but hopes for the next opportunity to face the Uruguayan team, which now leads the group with six points, compared to Flamengo's four. Leonardo Moura began by saying that the defeat should not shake the Flamengo squad. "We have to lift our heads. I'm sure the team will bounce back," he said in an interview with Rádio Globo.
Regarding the incident in which forward Toró was sent off after he got into a scuffle with a ball boy, Leonardo Moura – who was also sent off in the match – criticized the referee's actions. "Toró didn't even deserve to be sent off; the referee acted rashly and sent him off," he declared. The Flamengo director disagreed with the full-back's opinion and was succinct in his comment on Toró's incident: "A little more judgment wouldn't hurt anyone."
Visibly disappointed, Leonardo Moura only showed enthusiasm when discussing the second leg against Nacional, Flamengo's next match in the South American tournament, when the team from Gávea will have the chance to avenge the 3-0 defeat they suffered today, on March 19th, this time at Maracanã Stadium. "Playing at home, I'm sure Flamengo will win," he said confidently.
Coach Joel Santana downplayed the defeat, saying "it could have been worse." "We lost, but it could have been worse. We played with two players less, and it could have been a much worse loss than it was," he commented in a press conference.
Echoing Leonardo Moura's comments about the return leg, Joel set the date and time for Flamengo's return match: March 19th, at 21:50 pm. "We have to win in Rio, inside the Maracanã stadium. That's the team that bothers us the most. We have to win to maintain our place in the group," concluded the Flamengo manager.
PELENET
Nervous, Fla falls to Nacional-URU and loses leadership of Group 4
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
With a football below expectations and very nervous, Flamengo ended up being easy prey for Nacional-URU and lost 3-0, this Thursday, at Parque Central Stadium, in Montevideo, in the third round of Group 4 of the Copa Libertadores da América. Richard Morales (2) and Fornaroli scored for the home team.
Rubro-Negro finished the game with two less, as Toró, still in the first half, and Leonardo Moura, already in the second half, were sent off by Chilean referee Pablo Pozo.
With the loss, Flamengo, with four points, lost the lead to Nacional, who now have six. Cienciano-PER, with three, and Coronel Bolognesi-PER, with just one, face each other next Tuesday, the 11th, in Cusco.
In the next round, Flamengo will face Nacional again. This time, the duel will be held at Maracanã Stadium on March 19th. However, before that, Flamengo will face Americano this Sunday at 16 pm, also at Mário Filho Stadium, for the Taça Rio, the second round of the State Championship.
At the Parque Central trapdoor, Nacional started on top of Flamengo and pressed for the first ten minutes. From then on, Flamengo evened things up and held on like this until the 35th minute.
However, at the end of the first half, Nacional opened the scoring in the 40th minute with Richard Morales. Two minutes later, irritated by the ball boy's fussiness, Toró pushed him and ended up being sent off.
Flamengo returned for the second half with Marcinho replacing the ineffective Diego Tardelli. The team even showed signs of a comeback. However, in the fifth minute, a violent challenge on Romero resulted in Leonardo Moura receiving a red card, leaving the Red-Blacks two men down.
With nine men on the field, Flamengo gave in and watched Nacional dominate the game. In the 21st minute, after a major scuffle in the Brazilian box, Richard Morales scored the second. Two minutes later, Fornaroli doubled the lead.
To avoid an even more drastic scoreline, Joel Santana, in the 25th minute, took off striker Souza and brought on midfielder Jônatas. Nacional still tried to score a fourth, but Bruno managed to avoid the worst.
After defeat, Leonardo Moura declares: "Everything went wrong"
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Besides being sent off, Leonardo Moura also watched Flamengo lose 3-0 to Nacional-URU in Montevideo for the Copa Libertadores. After the game, the Flamengo right-back spoke out.
"Everything went wrong. But we'll keep our heads up, because we have other difficult games ahead of us," he said, adding whether he considered his red card, just five minutes into the second half, fair.
"The referee was hasty in Toró's play. In mine, the opponent took the lead. But that's in the past. The team is mature and the negative result will serve as a lesson to us," he highlighted.
The team's next Libertadores match is on March 19th at the Maracanã, against Nacional. "Flamengo wants to qualify, and at home, we've been winning. We know we're not losing anything, quite the opposite," he concluded.
Joel Santana praises Nacional-URU's good football
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
In the locker room after the 3-0 loss to Nacional in the Copa Libertadores, coach Joel Santana sought to praise his opponent's qualities. According to the red-and-black manager, the Uruguayan team proved to be a quality team.
"They're a good team, well organized. They have dangerous aerial play and strong marking," he analyzed, before lamenting the two players sent off: Toró and Leonardo Moura.
"The game was balanced until we lost two players. Regarding Toró's play, I didn't see it. They said he went for the ball at speed and knocked down the ball boy. In my opinion, the player was hasty," he pointed out.
Regarding Flamengo's current position in Group 4 of the competition, Joel Santana warned that there is no need to despair. "It's not complicated. With ten or eleven points, we'll be in," he opined.
In addition to Nacional, on March 19th, at Maracanã, Flamengo faces Cienciano-PER (09/04), at the altitude of Cusco, and closes against Coronel Bolognesi (23/04), also in Rio de Janeiro.
Flamengo director criticizes Toró for expulsion
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
In Flamengo's 3-0 loss to Nacional-URU this Thursday in Montevideo in the Copa Libertadores, Toró was sent off in the first half. When asked about the player's behavior, Flamengo's vice president of football, Kleber Leite, was quick to criticize him.
"This didn't happen for lack of warning. Toró has to admit his mistake. We warned about the catimba and the need to remain calm. We paid the price for our imbalance. We have to be prepared for this," he warned.
In the 42nd minute, Toró, after receiving the ball on the sideline, didn't like the ball boy's hesitation and pushed him. At this point, Nacional was already leading 1-0.
Regarding Leonardo Moura, who was sent off in the second half after a violent challenge on Romero, Kleber Leite considered the red card, given by referee Pablo Pozo, from Chile, to be harsh.
"It was a normal play. Leonardo Moura is not a violent player. If we had continued with ten men, I believe Flamengo would have tied the game. We paid for our mistakes," he said.
Even with the setback in Uruguay, the manager still believes Flamengo will qualify. The team currently has four points, two behind the league leaders.
"We need to go out on the field and win. We can get revenge at the Maracanã. It will be our first step in the Libertadores," he concluded, referring to the duel on the 19th, against Nacional.
GLOBOESPORTE
Fla, out of control, loses to Nacional
Toró attacks ball boy, Leo Moura kicks, and team falls in Montevideo with two men less
Eduardo Peixoto Special Envoy
Souza complains during the game
Flamengo's recent visits to Montevideo have been less than pleasant. Ten months after the unforgettable 3-0 loss to Defensor Sport in the first leg of the 2007 Libertadores Round of XNUMX at the Centenario Stadium, Flamengo returned to the Uruguayan capital, this time at Gran Parque Central, and left the field with a loss by the same score. However, Thursday's defeat was due more to Flamengo's own mistakes and lack of control—Toró and Leo Moura were both sent off childishly—than to Nacional's quality.
The Uruguayan team took over the lead from Flamengo in Group 4 of the competition, with six points. With four, Flamengo dropped to second place, having played one game more than Cienciano, who have three points, and Coronel Bolognesi, who have one. The two Peruvian teams play on Tuesday, the 11th, in Cusco. In the fourth round, on the 19th, Flamengo hosts Nacional at Maracanã.
A late goal and an unusual expulsion in the first half
The game started as expected, with Nacional trying to suffocate Flamengo in their own half. The red-and-blacks did everything they could to stop the Uruguayan initiative, even with long balls into the air. The nervousness became clear three minutes in, when Leo Moura received a yellow card for a violent challenge on Cardaccio, who was leading a counterattack in his own half.
But Flamengo's first two real chances fell to Kleberson and Juan, with shots from the edge of the box in the 10th and 11th minutes, respectively. Gradually, the game became more evenly matched, with plenty of fighting, especially in midfield, with both teams pressing hard and trying to attack quickly.
In the 20th minute, a great opportunity for the home side: after a cross into the box, Morales headed the ball, and Bertolo arrived to finish, but was blocked by Bruno. Morales had another chance on the rebound, but sent it wide.
Five minutes later, the most beautiful play of the match so far: Souza ran down the left, passed two opponents, passed to Diego Tardelli, who dribbled past another Uruguayan and shot, which Viera saved safely in the middle of the goal.
Flamengo's attacking players were a bit rushed, and they were caught offside a few times, especially Souza. Leo Moura and Juan, two of the key players in coach Joel Santana's attacking system, didn't have a good first half: while the left-back misplaced many passes, the right-back played a very restrained style, never really getting forward.
Diego Tardelli tries a play in the middle
In the 37th minute, Flamengo nearly opened the scoring: Kleberson crossed from the right, Souza picked up the ball and headed it, but the Uruguayan goalkeeper made a beautiful save, but the goalkeeper blocked it for a corner. Great for Nacional, who found the back of the net three minutes later: Ibson misplaced a pass on the way out, Romero shot from distance, but Bruno miskicked it, heading it straight to Morales, who fired a rocket into the net.
Then, in the 42nd minute, an unusual and disastrous scene for Flamengo's hopes: the ball went out on the left wing, a ball boy delayed returning it and was attacked by Toró, who was sent off. In the 44th minute, Fábio Luciano challenged Bertolo for the ball almost on the byline. The defender attacked his opponent with a light kick to the face, but nothing was called. The first half ended, and another 45 minutes of drama were expected.
Fla returns, has another expulsion and loses
Concerned about Toró's red card, Joel decided to take off Diego Tardelli and replace him with Marcinho to avoid losing too much pressure on the defense. But just five minutes in, the Rubro-Negro's situation worsened with the red-and-blacks' red card, Leo Moura, who recklessly challenged a midfielder and, already on a yellow card, was sent off early. Bruno then pulled off a miracle save from Victorino's header. Down two men, Joel replaced Kleberson with Jaílton to bolster the defense.
Even with nine men, Flamengo pushed for the equalizer, leaving plenty of space at the back, more open to Nacional's counterattacks. In the 22nd minute, another Uruguayan goal: Bruno came out poorly to clear a cross from the left, a rebound followed in the six-yard box, and Morales scored the second. A minute later, it was 3-0: Fornaroli took a free kick from the edge of the box, the ball deflected off the wall and deceived the Flamengo goalkeeper. An incredible celebration for the fans at Parque Central.
In the final 20 minutes of the match, all we saw was a stunned Flamengo on the field and Nacional on top, fighting for a fourth goal, which ultimately failed to come. There's more on the 19th, and Flamengo will have to win at home by any means necessary if they want to hope to qualify for the round of XNUMX of the Copa Libertadores.
Joel's away record is terrible
Under the coach's command, Fla suffered seven defeats in 11 games at the opponent's home
Joel Santana (Juan in the background) has not been getting good results away from home
If Joel Santana's Flamengo becomes a ferocious, threatening, and nearly unbeatable beast at Maracanã, away from home the red-and-black team can be compared to a harmless, frightened, and naive little animal. The statistics, while extremely favorable to Joel in matches at Maracanã, are disastrous when the team has to leave its home ground: in 11 games, seven losses, two draws, and only two wins.
It's even worse when you look at the number of goals scored and conceded in these games. Flamengo conceded 19 goals and only managed to score six. Besides the 3-0 loss this Thursday to Uruguay's Nacional, Flamengo lost by the same score to Santos, in Joel's debut as manager, on August 5th, and Internacional, both in last year's Brasileirão.
Furthermore, Flamengo hasn't won or even drawn away from home against a top-tier team. They beat Paraná and América-RN and drew with Juventude, all in last year's Brasileirão, and left the field with a lackluster 0-0 draw in their Copa Libertadores debut this year, against the unimpressive Coronel Bolognesi of Peru.
Maracanã was the great stage for the recovery in the Brasileirão
Their excellent home record, backed by the strength of their fans, explains their dizzying comeback in the 2007 Brasileirão, when the red-and-black team climbed out of the relegation zone to finish third, and also their easy qualification for the semifinals of the Guanabara Cup. Joel's Flamengo benefited from the fact that several home games were postponed until the second half of last year due to the Pan American Games and the change in this year's Carioca Championship regulations, which prevent smaller teams from playing in their stadiums.
At Maracanã, where based on the record with Joel Santana the team has a great chance of beating the same Nacional that defeated them this Thursday and Coronel Bolognesi, and rehabilitating themselves in this first phase of the Libertadores, the numbers are impressive, even taking into account the Carioca classics.
Average of two goals per game
In total, Flamengo played 26 home matches, winning 21, drawing three, and losing two, both to Fluminense, one in the Brazilian Championship and the other in the Guanabara Cup. Under Joel's command, the team scored 52 goals at Maracanã, an average of two per match, and conceded 21.
Overall, thanks to the good results obtained at home, Joel Santana's Flamengo has a good record so far: in 38 games (one of them, the 4-0 thrashing of América-RJ, was played at Engenhão), 24 wins, five draws and nine defeats, with 62 goals scored and 40 goals conceded.
Away games with Joel Santana
Brazilian Championship
5/8/2007 Flamengo 0 x 3 Santos (Santos, SP)\ 8/8/2007 Flamengo 0 x 2 Atlético-PR (Curitiba)\ 19/8/2007 Flamengo 1 x 2 Palmeiras (São Paulo)\ 8/9/2007 Flamengo 0 x 3 Internacional (Porto Alegre)\ 23/9/2007 Flamengo 2 x 2 Juventude Alfredo Jaconi (Caxias, RS)\ 13/10/2007 Flamengo 1 x 0 Parana Durival de Brito (Curitiba)\ 28/10/2007 Flamengo 1 x 0 America-RN (Natal)\ 4/11/2007 Flamengo 1 x 3 Cruzeiro (Belo Horizonte)\ 2/12/2007 Flamengo 0 x 1 Nautico Aflitos Stadium (Recife)\
Libertadores Cup
13/2/2008 Flamengo 0 x 0 Coronel Bolognesi Jorge Basadre Stadium (Tacna, Peru)\ 6/3/2008 Flamengo 0 x 3 Nacional Gran Parque Central Stadium (Montevideo)\
Fla enjoys the pit in Montevideo
Delegation spends the day in the Uruguayan capital and only arrives in Rio late in the evening
Eduardo Peixoto Special Envoy
Flamengo players leave the field after the defeat to Nacional in the Libertadores
Three fingers raised and wry smiles. Nacional fans are not above mocking the players or anyone connected to Flamengo after Thursday's match at Parque Central. To make matters worse, the delegation's return to Rio de Janeiro will only be late Friday afternoon.
The players will undergo regenerative training at their hotel in the Uruguayan capital before departing for Porto Alegre at 17 p.m. (Brasília time). They are scheduled to arrive in Rio at 22 p.m. Plenty of time to work through the team's emotional turmoil.
- We have experienced players who know how to deal with these situations - says right-back Leo Moura, who was sent off in the second half of the game.
The crushing 3-0 defeat shook the morale of some players. Cristian, for example, was inconsolable after the match. However, goalkeeper Bruno promises that the squad will bounce back and not be eliminated prematurely from the Copa Libertadores.
"This group has always shown strength in the most difficult times. We will qualify," says the number 1.
Due to fatigue, coach Joel Santana is expected to rest some players for Sunday's match against Americano in the Rio Cup. However, he won't make a decision until Rio. Obina, suspended, is the only one who is definitely out of the game.
Fla adopts the 'it's part of it' speech
The group leaves the stadium dejected, but thinks they didn't play badly against Nacional
Eduardo Peixoto Special Envoy
In the locker room, the players said that Flamengo played better
Flamengo needs at least seven more points from a possible nine to advance to the next stage of the Copa Libertadores without relying on other results. But for now, the players' talk remains calm.
After the 3-0 loss to Nacional in Montevideo, the players left the Parque Central stadium dejected, but far from despairing.
"There are days when things don't go right. It was a result we didn't deserve. But that's part of it," says goalkeeper Bruno.
Right-back Leo Moura was another who considered the score unfair. He believes the Rio de Janeiro team was controlling the match until conceding Richard Morales's first goal late in the first half.
"Our team was far superior. But we'll take this as a lesson. It's been a long time since we lost with this group, and we won't despair over a defeat," the right-back declared.
Flamengo's starting lineup hadn't been defeated since the last round of the Brazilian Championship, in early December. On that occasion, they lost 1-0 to Náutico. This year, their only setback had been against Fluminense, playing against the reserve team. In the 11 previous matches the main team had played, they had won ten and drawn one.
Leo Moura promises revenge at Maracanã
Full-back says team will bounce back in home games
Sent off for a violent foul in the match against Nacional-URU, Leonardo Moura preached calm as Flamengo's key to recovering in the Copa Libertadores. The right-back promised the fans a victory over the Uruguayans on the 19th at Maracanã Stadium. This Thursday, the Rio de Janeiro team lost 3-0 in Montevideo.
"Nothing is lost. At home, I'm sure Flamengo will win. This year, we've been winning games at Maracanã (the team has won nine of the ten games it played there this year), and I'm sure it won't be any different. This defeat must serve as a lesson so that this doesn't happen again," he stated.
Leo Moura assured that the result will not have a negative impact on the group.
"Everyone supports each other. Now it's time to lift our heads. We lost an away game. With a win in Rio, we'll advance past Nacional."
Montevideo: One Conquest and Three Tragedies
The city saw the 81 Libertadores title and embarrassments on and off the field in recent years.
Toró doesn't have good memories of his matches at the National Park
Montevideo, which until recently was synonymous with fond memories for Flamengo, has become the scene of tragedies for Flamengo in the last three years. In the city that saw Zico lift the Copa Libertadores in 1981, the Rio de Janeiro team lost two friendlies, to Nacional and Peñarol, in 2006, was thrashed 3-0 by Defensor Sporting in the 2007 Copa Libertadores, and fell again to Nacional this Thursday in a match valid for the third round of Group 4 of the continent's top club competition.
Besides the poor results on the field in Uruguay, Flamengo has also been embarrassing in the disciplinary department. At Parque Nacional Stadium, the players seem to be getting heated. There, Toró and Renato got into a fight in 2006, and this Thursday, Toró was sent off for assaulting a ball boy. Leo Moura also hit an opponent in the ribs with the sole of his boot.
'It could be a lot worse,' says Joel
Coach laments Toró's temper and believes Flamengo's situation in the group is 'difficult'
Eduardo Peixoto Special Envoy
No vehement criticism of the referee or attempts to sugarcoat the situation. In the press conference following the 3-0 loss to Nacional in Montevideo, coach Joel Santana didn't spare Toró, lamenting the team's outburst and admitting that the Copa Libertadores standings are complicated.
Rubro-Negro is in second place in the standings with four points, but could be overtaken by Cienciano, who has a game in hand. There are still three rounds remaining in the first phase. The next matches will be Nacional at Maracanã, Cienciano at 3.360m in Cuzco, and Coronel Bolognesi in Rio. According to calculations, the team needs seven more points to qualify.
Check out excerpts from Joel's press conference:
Arbitration\ "There's no point crying. Toró was hasty, but he was strict with Leo Moura."\
Team Irritation\ "It's hard to understand what's going on with the Brazilian player. He loses his temper very easily. And we talked about it in the pre-match talk. I really can't understand."\
Toró\ "He can't do that. I only saw it when the boy (ball boy) was on the ground. But Toró made a mistake and he can't lose his head like that."\
The match\ "Playing with two men down for almost 45 minutes is complicated. Even more so against Nacional, who know how to take advantage of their stadium. It could have been much worse, a horrible defeat."\
Situation in the Libertadores\ "It's difficult. But I think with 11 points we're in. We can't lose points at home."\
THROW
Flamengo, out of sorts, is thrashed by Nacional
The expulsions of Toró and Léo Moura, in addition to Bruno's mistakes, decided the match
Souza fights, but cannot avoid the red-black defeat (Credit: Cleber Mendes)
LANCEPRESS!
Unrecognizable, ill-tempered, and inattentive. These words perfectly describe Flamengo, who were thrashed 3-0 by Nacional this Thursday at Parque Central Stadium in Montevideo. The childish red cards of Toró (the latter in the first half) and Léo Moura (in the second half), coupled with two errors by Bruno on Uruguay's first two goals, clearly explain the match. Richard Morales (two) and Fornaroli scored.
With the victory, Nacional took the lead in Group 4 of the Libertadores, now with six points, two more than second-place Flamengo. Next Tuesday, Cienciano (with three points) and Coronel Bolognesi (with one point) will face off in Peru, and either result will knock the Rubro-Negro out of second place due to goal difference.
The opening ten minutes showed Flamengo sitting excessively deep. Nacional, however, failed to exploit Flamengo's retreat, simply holding more possession.
In the 20th minute, Bertolo headed the ball inside the red-and-black penalty area, but Bruno, alert, saved it. The rebound was sent over by Richard Morales.
Flamengo's most dangerous move came in the 37th minute, when Souza, with a header from distance, almost chipped the ball over the short, 1,75m goalkeeper Viera, who put it out for a corner.
Uruguay responded with a goal. Romero unleashed a powerful shot from long range, and Bruno saved it. Richard Morales fired the rebound into the red-and-black net, making it 1-0.
Two minutes after Nacional's goal, another penalty was issued: attempting to quickly take a throw-in, Toró lost his temper and pushed one of the ball boys. Result: a red card for the Rubro-Negro midfielder.
Flamengo started the second half showing signs of a comeback, pressing forward. However, Léo Moura, in a purely childish move, kicked Cardaccio in the back and was sent off after just five minutes.
With two more players on the field, Nacional quickly threatened Bruno's goal. Six minutes in, Cardaccio took a free kick and Victorino headed dangerously, but the red-and-black number 1 made a brilliant save.
At 17 minutes, another scare for the Red-Black Nation: the big Richard Morales appeared in front of Bruno and shot dangerously, to the right of the red-black goal.
Four minutes later, Bruno missed again, and the game was all but decided. From a corner, the number 1 came out poorly, the ball bounced across the box and landed at the feet of Morales, who made no mistake: Nacional 2-0.
The final blow came in the 23rd minute. Fornaroli, taking a free kick from Fábio Luciano at the edge of the box, was fortunate enough to have the ball deflected off Marcinho, turning Uruguay's victory into a rout.
At the end of the game, Bruno, who had a poor performance, did well in two of Nacional's attacking moves.
Joel Santana saw Toró's haste in sending him off
The coach, however, did not comment on a possible fine for the player\ LANCEPRESS!\
When analyzing Toró's expulsion in the 3-0 defeat against Nacional, which occurred in the 42nd minute of the game, Joel Santana was emphatic, repeating the word "precipitation" three times to classify the push by the red-black midfielder on the Uruguayan ball boy.
- Precipitation (three times)... I didn't see the play. Toró went to get the ball quickly and knocked the kid down. You can't do that - he disapproved.
Regarding a possible fine for Toró, Joel dodged the issue, claiming that it is inappropriate to comment on possible punishments after the games.
"Now's not the time to talk about that. We can't talk in a rush. We (Joel and the board) will talk to the player and see if we can make a decision," he simply said.
Vice President of Football Kléber Leite criticizes Toró's childishness
The director did not mention a fine, claiming that the midfielder's career was marked\ LANCEPRESS!\
Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, expressed his displeasure with Toró's sending-off, calling it childish. The manager, however, hinted that he wouldn't fine the player, claiming the incident would mark him for the rest of his career. Toró received a red card in the 42nd minute of the 3-0 loss to Nacional.
"There was some childishness. It wasn't for lack of warning; you have to take responsibility. A little more common sense doesn't hurt anyone. To play for Flamengo, you have to have a minimum of maturity. You can't just leave things to chance. He's a human being, not a goalpost. This will definitely be etched in his career. We paid the price for our imbalance," said Kléber, visibly disappointed with the midfield.
Regarding the other red-black sent off in the game, Leonardo Moura, Kléber Leite did not agree with the decision made by referee Pablo Pozo.
"I think the referee was extremely strict with Léo Moura's tackle. I think if Flamengo had at least ten players, we would have been perfectly capable of turning the game around," the director argued.
Léo Moura guarantees: 'We will beat their team at Maracanã'
Right-back considered the defeat to Nacional in Montevideo normal\ LANCEPRESS!\
Sent off for a violent foul in the match against Nacional, Leonardo Moura preached calm as something Flamengo needs to recover in the Copa Libertadores, promising a victory against the Uruguayans on the 19th at Maracanã. This Thursday, the team was thrashed 3-0 in Montevideo.
"Nothing is lost. At home, I'm sure Flamengo will win. This year, we've been winning games at Maracanã (the team has won nine of the 10 games I've played at the stadium this year), and I'm sure it won't be any different. This defeat must serve as a lesson so that it doesn't happen again," he stated.
Regarding a possible negative impact on the group, Léo Moura guaranteed that this will not happen.
"We each support each other. Now it's time to lift our heads. We lost an away game. With a win in Rio, we'll advance past Nacional."