The Globe
Fla should present Ibson tomorrow as its latest reinforcement
Striker Nilmar is once again the dream of the red-black board
Sold to Porto in Portugal in early 2005, after emerging as one of the most promising players to emerge from Flamengo's youth academy, midfielder Ibson is expected to be announced tomorrow as the newest signing for the season. Recently married and with his wife pregnant, he chose to return to Brazil so his family could have more peace of mind during the pregnancy.
Contacts with attorney Eduardo Uram were practically finalized over the weekend and the 22-year-old player, who had been little used by coach Jesualdo Ferreira, did not appear to be in Porto's plans for next season.
So much so that he started three matches and played the entire match once, always being substituted. This was a far cry from the situation he faced when he broke through at Flamengo in 2004 and quickly became an idol among Portuguese fans in his first season.
For coach Ney Franco, the arrival of a reinforcement of Ibson's caliber is a godsend. With Flamengo losing players like midfielder Paulinho and midfielder Renato, the midfield would be weakened. His arrival would solve this problem, as, like Renato, Ibson defends effectively and knows how to distribute the play, a virtue Paulinho never possessed.
Argentine Maxi starts training this week
But it's in attack that Flamengo could benefit from a significant reinforcement. After signing Argentine Maxi Biancucchi, Messi's cousin, who will begin training as soon as he's cleared to undergo surgery after a sebaceous cyst was removed from his neck, Flamengo is once again focusing its efforts on a project it's been nurturing since mid-last year.
The board's dream come true is once again Nilmar. After recovering well from surgery on his left knee, an injury that had put his career in jeopardy, Nilmar has rekindled a wave of optimism at Gávea regarding his arrival.
During Flamengo's short stint in Belo Horizonte, Nilmar's agent was spotted several times at Toca da Raposa II. The script is the same: the board maintains that everything is fine between Nilmar and the club. There's just one detail missing:
- As soon as he is free from Corinthians, we will talk - says vice president of football Kleber Leite.
Diego performs a miracle at Morumbi and prevents Flamengo from losing.
Bruno's replacement holds 0-0 in the game that should be Renato's farewell
Photo caption: RENATO, WHO is saying goodbye to Flamengo, fights for the ball in the air with André Dias, in the 0-0 draw with São Paulo, at Morumbi
SÃO PAULO. The last 0-0 draw between Flamengo and São Paulo in the Brazilian Championship was in 1998. Those expecting a massacre from the second-place team over the then-second-to-last team yesterday were surprised by the resilience of the understaffed Rio de Janeiro team. If they lacked the talent to secure the victory, they at least held on to a goalless draw with grit, leaving Morumbi Stadium without losing the game that should be Renato's farewell match, who is transferring to the United Arab Emirates. The 0-0 draw was maintained thanks to goalkeeper Diego, who once again came in as a capable replacement for Bruno.
The first half was lukewarm. São Paulo limited itself to sending crosses into the red-and-black box. In the only lucid play, Ilsinho went to the baseline, crossed, and Leandro shot, but Diego made a great save.
Flamengo managed to create three good chances. One from Souza, in the first attack, but the striker couldn't reach the ball centered in the six-yard box; the second from Paulinho, who shot over the bar in the 22nd minute after a good counterattack by Leonardo; and another from Renato's free kick in the 36th minute, which grazed Rogério Ceni's right post.
At this stage, what drew the most attention was Paraná referee Evandro Roman's complacency with the foul play on free kicks. Seven of these took 11 minutes to take. Adding the calls, the free kick recovery time was one minute.
The second half wasn't much different. Pressure from the São Paulo team, Flamengo attempted counterattacks, and Flamengo suffered a scare in the 16th minute when Jorge Wagner took a free kick that Diego barely parried.
Diego saved the team again in the 26th minute, with a confusing move in the box that Dagoberto finished from close range, forcing the goalkeeper to make a fine save. By this point, Flamengo had abandoned the pressure that had worked in the first half and was giving space to São Paulo, who failed to score in the 29th minute, from a free kick by Rogério Ceni, because Diego made another saving effort.
And it was Diego who, at 47, in the last play of the game, saved Flamengo, with a pure reflex save, with his leg, from a frontal shot by Ilsinho.
Yellow cards: Ronaldo Angelim, Breno and Irineu.
Renato Mauricio Prado
Flamengo has appealed to the CBF to try to persuade FIFA regarding the ban on registering players who played abroad before August 3rd - when the transfer window closes:
"If they come here and take our players now, why do we have to wait until August 3? It doesn't make sense! We're short-handed and have no chance of replacements for several rounds of the Brazilian Championship," complains Kléber Leite.
Fla's vice president of football guarantees that Ricardo Teixeira is "sensitive" to the cause.
Sports Journal
Diego saves Flamengo
With miraculous saves, the goalkeeper guarantees a 0-0 draw with São Paulo, but Fla remains in the relegation zone
Thiago Bokel
Souza is marked on top by defenders Edcarlos (L) and Breno (R), watched in the background by striker Dagoberto
If coach Ney Franco's goal was to secure two wins in the matches against Atlético-MG and São Paulo, it's safe to say Flamengo returns to Rio empty-handed. The team drew 0-0 with São Paulo yesterday at Morumbi Stadium in the tenth round of the Brazilian Championship, remaining in the relegation zone, in 18th place with eight points. With the result, São Paulo dropped to third place.
Flamengo started the match better and nearly scored less than a minute into the match. Souza received a cross from Renato, challenged Breno, and the ball went out for a corner. Setting a strong pace, Flamengo was undeterred by the second-placed team in the Brazilian Championship and controlled the game.
But little by little, São Paulo began to level the playing field. After ten minutes, Flamengo began to lean more heavily into defense and began to exploit counterattacks. On one such play, defender Breno lost the ball in midfield, and Leonardo made a beautiful play, leaving Paulinho facing the goal. Without the attacking instincts, the defensive midfielder shot over the bar. São Paulo responded immediately. Ilsinho made a good individual move and crossed into the box, which Leandro fired first time, forcing Diego to make a great save.
Referee Evandro Rogério Roman, who had been performing discreetly, compromised by not sending off defender Breno, who was the last man and fouled Paulinho, who was heading towards the goal.
The second half began with Flamengo sitting deep. As a result, the São Paulo team grew into the game, forcing goalkeeper Diego to perform miracles.
The São Paulo fans were already getting impatient when, in the 27th minute, Dagoberto made a beautiful individual play and, once again, Diego stood out.
Two minutes later, Rogério Ceni took a perfect free kick and the red-black number 1 proved once again that he was in great form, making a great save.
Diego still performed the final miracle of the match, with a shot from Ilsinho, in the last minute, and secured the draw which, given the team's performance in the second half, can be considered a great result.
Ney Franco doesn't want despair
After struggling to secure a draw with São Paulo, Flamengo remains in the relegation zone. Now the team will have another 12 days without playing until they face Paraná in Uberlândia. For coach Ney Franco, there's no reason to despair.
"It's bad to look at the table and feel powerless because the other teams are playing and you're not. We don't need to worry now because we have every chance of recovering," the coach assessed.
Another concern for the coach is the threat of a team breakdown. In the coming days, he could be without Renato, Paulinho, and Irineu, who has received an offer from a club in Qatar.
"Nothing official has arrived yet, but as a coach, I hope the European transfer window closes soon. We have work to do to build the team, and then we run the risk of losing key players," complained Ney Franco.
Marcos de Castro
Bath-in-Cuia
Shoulder, at 47
Marcos de Castro castro@jsports.com.br
Late Wednesday afternoon, as soon as the Flamengo-Atletico match ended, the phone rang. When I answered, I immediately recognized the voice of an old friend, a passionate Flamengo fan, shouting:
— It's obvious, this year there's no one like us. We'll be champions.
This abusive use of the first person plural doesn't include me. It simply means that, for this passionate man, he and the Flamengo team are one and the same. Or rather, the spotlight is on him, a sort of number 1 on the team, the team's leading scorer. I countered (and almost used the verb "obtemperar" here, which I ultimately despise for seeming somewhat pretentious, although it carries a semantic charge undoubtedly indicative of a certain prudence):
—But don't you think the championship is a little too green to start shooting rockets? And then there's Flamengo in the relegation zone...
"Nonsense, it doesn't mean anything, the first corn belongs to the chicks. A goal in the 47th minute of the second half, with a shoulder kick, that's a sign that the divine forces are on our side."
The possessive only reinforces the fact that he, so to speak, plays for Flamengo. And the signs aren't just divine; there's also a human side that excites him (indeed, when it comes to the red-and-black jersey, it doesn't take much to excite him). The players, for him, behaved like true warriors, conceding a penalty goal right before the final whistle and drawing "from the depths of their hearts" the strength to react, go forward, and equalize, in an "epic climax," to use his fiery terms. Needless to say, the penalty, however glaring, was "stolen" for him.
I no longer dare challenge him, talk about the danger of the upcoming games, the fact that Maracanã, which he always calls "Flamengo's home," is closed. He himself points out that the next game would be against second-place São Paulo at Morumbi Stadium (as it was yesterday), but even if there were a slip-up, which he didn't believe would happen, it wouldn't mean anything:
"You need to learn to see the signs from above: a shoulder-first goal in the 47th minute of the second half is a warning from the gods. And then, in August, we'll return not only to Maracanã, but we'll return with Obina. Can't you see that?"
O Dia
São Paulo and Flamengo draw 0-0 at Morumbi
São Paulo - A great save by goalkeeper Diego in stoppage time prevented São Paulo from remaining in second place in the Brazilian Championship. Ilsinho's shot missed, and the Tricolor drew 0-0 with Flamengo at Morumbi Stadium.
The result left Muricy Ramalho's team in third place with 18 points, one behind new second-place Goiás. Ney Franco's side, meanwhile, reached eight points and remained in the relegation zone in 18th.
Throughout the first half, the defenses prevailed over the attacks, which produced little to change the score. In the second half, the home side managed to create chances but failed to find the net against the visitors.
Flamengo goalkeeper Diego was the star of the game, the main reason for the 0-0 draw. His biggest interventions came from a free kick taken by Rogério Ceni and a one-on-one shot with Ilsinho in the final moments.
São Paulo returns to action for the 11th round next Sunday against rival Corinthians. Due to the Pan-American Games, the derby between Flamengo and Fluminense was moved to August. The red-and-black team doesn't play until the 19th, against Paraná.
Fla: Obina returns against Paraná
Rio - Flamengo fans, who haven't celebrated a victory in almost two months, are clamoring for Obina's return. He's been without a win for six games. His last victory was on May 20th, against Goiás, 3-1, at Serra Dourada. Fully recovered from surgery on his right knee, he will return to the team for the next game, on the 19th, against Paraná, in Uberlândia.
With two games in hand, Flamengo will be sidelined for another 12 days, a situation that has been keeping coach Ney Franco awake at night, who complained. "We're going to have three games in hand. We're in the relegation zone, and emotionally, that's bad because our opponents play, score, and we're falling behind," lamented the Flamengo coach.
"We'll only know the real situation of our team when we play the games we have in hand," says Ney Franco, who will be without the suspended central defenders Ronaldo Angelim and Irineu against Paraná.
Sports Gazette
Flamengo draws and knocks São Paulo out of second place
São Paulo (SP) - São Paulo disappointed its fans this Saturday at Morumbi Stadium. The team's plan to stay close to leaders Botafogo didn't work out, and the Tricolor failed to break the deadlock with Flamengo. The result took the São Paulo team to 0 points and lost second place in the Brasileirão standings to Goiás. Botafogo won its match against Atlético-PR and opened up a six-point lead over the Tricolor.
Flamengo's situation remains complicated. The Rio de Janeiro team is in the relegation zone with eight points, but has two games in hand.
Although the result wasn't what coach Muricy Ramalho and the fans had hoped for, São Paulo at least maintained two record-breaking records. They haven't lost to Rio de Janeiro teams in 16 matches, a streak that began on May 22, 2005, when Vasco won 3-1 at São Januário Stadium. At Morumbi Stadium, their unbeaten streak against Rio de Janeiro teams began in 2003.
Unlike against Internacional, São Paulo failed to exert the pressure marking Muricy Ramalho called for in Saturday's match. Flamengo surprised everyone by starting the match better, scaring Rogério Ceni.
While São Paulo was playing solid defensively in midfield, with André Dias playing as a makeshift defensive midfielder, Flamengo was putting in the effort and was well-positioned in defense. On the counterattack, the Rio de Janeiro team was dangerous. However, São Paulo had the best chance to score. Ilsinho crossed, and Leandro shot from close range. Diego made a great save.
São Paulo made some good plays, but the first half ended with Flamengo having the upper hand. Thanks to efficient marking, Flamengo dominated the midfield and possession. Despite being hasty in their finishing, the Rio de Janeiro team threatened Rogério Ceni's goal.
In the second half, the match remained sluggish. The two teams were very well-positioned on defense, and their attacks struggled to find a shot on goal. In keeping with the current trend in football, there was a lot of running in the midfield.
Ilsinho and Jorge Wagner improved in the second half, and with them, São Paulo grew, attacking down the flanks. In the 26th minute, Dagoberto finally made a great play. He spun between the two defenders and shot. Goalkeeper Diego was once again there to save Flamengo.
São Paulo had more chances. Aloísio chested the ball down for Souza to fire. Irineu committed a hard foul just outside the box. Rogério Ceni shot into the corner, and Diego cemented his place as the game's key player, palming the ball away. In the final minute, the goalkeeper made another crucial save to keep the score at 0-0.
Renato criticizes Aloísio and says Fla owes nothing to leaders
São Paulo (SP) - Midfielder Renato left with a deep cut on his face after a play in which he was elbowed by forward Aloísio. The Flamengo player left Morumbi Stadium satisfied after a goalless draw with São Paulo. The Rio de Janeiro club, however, remains in the relegation zone. "Getting a point away from home is always good. I read that São Paulo was planning to get nine points in three games, and things aren't that simple here. We proved that Flamengo is no match for these teams in the lead. We just need to get a few things right to get the wins," said Renato.
Shortly before receiving three stitches for a cut on his face, the Flamengo player complained about São Paulo's Aloísio's behavior. "I was upset with him. He opened his arms wide and didn't even apologize," Renato said.
PeléNet
Ney Fraco regrets another round postponed by the Pan
The Pan American Games are driving Flamengo's calm coach crazy. With another match postponed due to the closure of the Maracanã stadium, the Flamengo coach lamented having to simply watch another round.
Flamengo won't return to action until July 19th, at 20:30 pm, against Paraná. Even so, the team remains far from Rio de Janeiro, as the match will be played in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais. The postponed match from the 11th round is the derby against Fluminense, which will be played only on August 16th, instead of next weekend.
"Unbelievably, we won't play again in the next round. We'll be three games behind the other teams, which is an uncomfortable situation," lamented the coach.
As a result, the Gávea team will remain in the relegation zone for at least another round and could see its direct rivals pull away. Flamengo is currently third-to-last with eight points. Santos, the first team outside the relegation zone, has 11.
"Emotionally, it's really bad to not play because everyone else is scoring and you're falling behind in the table. It's bad for anyone on a big team to look at the table and feel powerless to get out of a bad situation," said Ney Franco.
Unsure if he will remain a starter, Diego stands out at Flamengo
The key player in the 0-0 draw between Flamengo and São Paulo was Flamengo goalkeeper Diego. He was responsible for the match's outcome, saving the Rio de Janeiro team several times.
Diego was crucial to the team on at least four occasions. In the first half, the number 1 made a great save from Leandro. In the second half, he blocked free kicks from Jorge Wagner and Rogério Ceni. His most important save, however, came in the 47th minute, from a one-on-one shot by Ilsinho.
"I'm very happy when I'm challenged and I can give back. But I think the star of the game was the whole team, because São Paulo has a lot of quality and it was a very difficult match," said Diego.
The goalkeeper, however, still doesn't know how long he'll continue wearing the No. 1 jersey. Until two rounds ago, Bruno was the undisputed starter in that position, but his contract expired and his situation has not yet been resolved. The hope is that he'll stay at the club, and that decision will be made early next week.
Diego wasn't the only one who came off the bench and received praise. Coach Ney Franco was very pleased with the team's performance, even without his two starting fullbacks (Juan suspended and Leonardo Moura with injuries).
"We have a squad. Today [Saturday] we had several players on the field who were previously options. We didn't have two full-backs [Leonardo Moura and Juan] and Renato Augusto [who is at the U-20 World Cup]", highlighted the coach.
Low in the table, Flamengo celebrates a draw away from home
Flamengo is third-to-last in the Brasileirão, three points behind the first team outside the relegation zone. They haven't won since May 20th, when they defeated Goiás. Even so, they celebrated their draw against São Paulo this Saturday as if it were a victory.
"I'm very happy with the draw. These were two good results against two strong teams away from home. It's a sign that we're reacting well," said midfielder Renato, also celebrating the 1-1 draw with Atlético-MG last Wednesday.
For defender Ronaldo Angelim, the main reason for celebration is the match's location, despite the club's poor performance. However, the defender expects a leap in quality when Flamengo hosts.
"It was away from home, so it's fine. But at home, we'll have to start winning. We played on equal terms with São Paulo, but we're still not out of this uncomfortable situation," said Angelim, analyzing the red-and-black's attitude in the game as normal:
"We applied strong marking and played on the counter-attack, which is how teams have been playing away from home."
BalloonSport
Coach satisfied with fifth draw
Ney Franco believes the team is improving after the last two games
GLOBOESPORTE.COM\ Ney Franco believes the starting full-backs were sorely missed in São Paulo\ Flamengo drew their fifth game in eight. Even so, coach Ney Franco celebrated the result against São Paulo at Morumbi Stadium. With another point, the Rubro-Negro reached eight, remaining in the relegation zone.\
"We played without both of our starting full-backs (Leo Moura with muscle pain and Juan suspended) and Renato Augusto. Even so, we got two points that were important and show that we're improving," says Ney Franco, also recalling the draw against Atlético-MG at Mineirão.
In the next round, Flamengo faces Paraná, at Parque do Sabiá, in Uberlândia.
Ney worried about losing players
Renato, Paulinho, goalkeeper Bruno, Renato Augusto and Irineu may go abroad
Coach Ney Franco has a concern for the rest of the Brasileirão: the possible departure of players to foreign football. Flamengo could lose Renato to Arab football, Paulinho to Israel, Bruno and Renato Augusto to Spanish clubs, and Irineu to Turkish football.
Despite praising his squad, Ney admits that the Rio de Janeiro club will need reinforcements if the current starters leave at this time.
"We work with a group at the beginning of the season. When the hardest part arrives, the Brazilian Championship, players may leave. I hope that doesn't happen. It will be a very difficult loss for us. But Kléber (Leite, vice-president of football) has been talking and said there's a possibility of someone arriving," he says.
Among the potential losses, the most likely is precisely the team's most important player: midfielder Renato. He has an offer from Al-Nasr of Saudi Arabia and may have said goodbye this Saturday in the draw with São Paulo.
Sao Paulo stops at Diego's Flamengo
The game was evenly balanced in the first half. In the second half, the goalkeeper made four excellent saves.
A beautiful game, which likely left both fans satisfied with the beautiful plays, excellent defenses, plenty of movement, and several missed scoring chances. However, the Tricolor has a bit more to regret due to four excellent saves by Diego in the second half (Watch the video, with one of the goalkeeper's saves). In the end, São Paulo and Flamengo ended in a scoreless draw this Saturday at Morumbi Stadium in the Brazilian Championship.
In the first half, the goal could have gone either way. Chances abounded. But in the second half, the red-and-black goalkeeper saved a free kick by Jorge Wágner, a powerful shot by Dagoberto from the edge of the box, another free kick by Rogério Ceni, and a point-blank shot by Ilsinho.
With the point at home, São Paulo reached 18 points, losing second place to Goiás, who has 19, and seeing Botafogo shoot to the top of the table with 24 points. Flamengo reached eight points and remains in the relegation zone.
In the next round of the Brazilian Championship, São Paulo will play the derby against Corinthians on Saturday at 18:10 p.m. at Morumbi Stadium. Flamengo will return to action on July 19th, at a venue yet to be determined, against Paraná.
Busy game
São Paulo and Flamengo played a pleasant game at Morumbi Stadium. Despite defending well, both teams constantly pushed forward. With scoring chances for both sides, plenty of movement, and beautiful plays, the performance was top-notch. Flamengo had two excellent chances, from free kicks by Rogério Ceni and Jorge Wágner. However, the ball hit the wall and didn't find its way into the net.
Flamengo played intelligently down the wings and demonstrated clever counterattacks. Souza nearly opened the scoring after just 20 seconds, but Paulinho missed a great opportunity inside the box. São Paulo also wasted an excellent chance with Leandro, who shot low after Ilsinho's cross. Diego made a great save.
In the final stretch of the first half, each team again missed significant chances. Both from set pieces. São Paulo, in the 32nd minute, with an Edcarlos header. Flamengo, in the 36th, with a torpedo from Renato, which deflected off the wall and nearly fooled Rogério Ceni.
In the second half, the game lost some technical depth, but remained well-contested, with tight marking on both sides. São Paulo, however, created more chances from set pieces. In the 13th minute, after a corner kick, André Dias headed wide. In the 16th minute, Jorge Wágner took a free kick, and Diego parried it away. Among the substitutions, Muricy brought on Souza for Leandro to increase creativity. Ney Franco replaced striker Leonardo with Gérson Magrão to congest the midfield.
São Paulo stepped up their game, while Flamengo retreated defensively. In the 26th minute, after dribbling past two opponents, Dagoberto took a shot, and Diego made a spectacular save. In the 29th minute, Rogério Ceni took a free kick, and the Flamengo goalkeeper shone again. In the 47th minute, Ilsinho burst into the box and hit a cross, but Diego saved again.
Real Madrid targets Pato and Renato Augusto
Spanish newspaper AS says the club's scout likes the two players at the U-20 World Cup
Reuters\ Alexandre Pato has been pleasing European scouts at the U-20 World Cup\ The Spanish newspaper AS reports in its edition this Saturday that Real Madrid scout Julen Lopetegui has been enjoying the performances of Brazilians Alexandre Pato, from Internacional, and Renato Augusto, from Flamengo, at the U-20 World Cup, which is being held in Canada.\
The report goes overboard in its praise for Renato Augusto, saying that in Brazil the midfielder is being called the "new Kaká." Also according to AS, Real Madrid management had been monitoring the performance of both players at Flamengo and Internacional. But the negotiations are complicated, as the Spanish club is unwilling to pay large sums for the two Brazilian talents: Flamengo wanted R$18 million for Renato Augusto, and Internacional would only release Alexandre Pato for R$25 million.
Another player in Canada watching the U-20 World Cup is Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti. He's also been enjoying Pato's performances.
Throw
São Paulo and Fla draw on Diego's night
The red-and-black goalkeeper, under fire, secures a point for the Rio team
Teams fought hard, but couldn't get past the 0-0 draw (Credit: Reginaldo Castro)
Rodrigo Mandarini
São Paulo and Flamengo drew 0-0 this Saturday at Morumbi Stadium in a highly charged match. In the duel between top-scoring goalkeeper Rogério Ceni and challenged goalkeeper Diego, the Rio native prevailed. Despite lacking the confidence of the Flamengo fans, Diego showed quality and saved the team on several occasions. The most difficult of these was a free kick from the São Paulo native.
With the draw, São Paulo reached 18 points. The gap to leaders Botafogo increased to six points. Flamengo, with eight points, is in 18th place, still in the relegation zone.
With a large ten-point lead in the standings, São Paulo entered the match as the favorite. To make matters worse, São Paulo coach Ney Franco was without both of his full-backs: Léo Moura was ruled out due to right thigh pain, and Juan was suspended after receiving a third yellow card.
Despite being the favorite, the Rubro-Negro's strong marking worked, and the Tricolor struggled to utilize its greater technical strength. São Paulo even took more initiative, but Flamengo was undaunted and threatened with counterattacks. In one of these, Paulinho had a clear chance after a good play by Leonardo, but squandered it by shooting over the goal.
In addition to the midfielder, midfielder Renato, back in the team after recovering from muscle pain, also came close to opening the scoring with two good free kicks. However, Rogério Ceni was luckier, and the ball didn't go in.
For São Paulo, the same Rogério Ceni took two free kicks and gave Diego a scare. The goalkeeper, incidentally, made a great save from Leandro's shot. Diego, who doesn't have the confidence of the red-and-blacks, proved to be a good backup for Bruno, who will return in the next round. Despite the willingness of both teams, the scoreboard was uneventful in the first 45 minutes.
In the second half, both teams continued to search for the goal with more determination than technique. Once again, São Paulo threatened Flamengo with a free kick: Jorge Wagner took the shot, but he was there, firm, and saved.
To curb São Paulo's voluptuousness, Ney Franco took off striker Leonardo and brought on Gerson Magrão. Muricy took off the injured Leandro and brought on Souza. The pressure on the Tricolor increased even more.
In a fine individual play by Ilsinho, Diego made another great save. The goalkeeper still had time to save Flamengo from a free kick by Rogério Ceni. São Paulo's top scorer, with three goals, sent the ball into the left corner, but it was the Rio de Janeiro native's night. He flew and palmed the ball away, denying the fans' suspicions.
In the final play, Diego capped off his great performance with a flourish. He saved a rocket from Ilsinho even though he was already down on the field.
The 0-0 scoreline was unfair, given what the teams fought for. But it would also be unfair for there to be a loser in the match.
In the next round, Flamengo will face another Tricolor team, this time Paraná, in Uberlândia. São Paulo will play the São Paulo derby against Corinthians next Saturday.
Obina trains hard to return\ LANCEPRESS!\
Long days of intense training continue to be a part of Obina's life. After a serious knee injury, the Rubro-Negro favorite is racing against time to regain his starting spot in Ney Franco's squad. At the youth team's training session this Friday, the forward made his mark, even scoring a goal from the penalty spot.
After training, the player walked around the field and greeted the eagerly awaiting fans. The Bahia native wants to soon return to delighting the fans:
- I want to try to score goals to help Flamengo win - said Obina.
Demonstrating humility, Obina recognizes that even when he is fully recovered, he will have to fight hard to earn a place among the eleven players:
- It has to be done in stages, there are teammates who are much better than me, especially physically, so I have to come back little by little - said the striker.
Real Madrid eyes Brazilian talent
Renato Augusto and Alexandre Pato are reportedly in the Spanish club's sights
More Brazilians abroad?
LANCEPRESS!\ The Brazilian U-20 team hasn't been performing well in the U-XNUMX World Cup, but two of its players have caught the eye of one of the world's biggest clubs. According to Spanish newspaper Diário As, Real Madrid is reportedly interested in Flamengo midfielder Renato Augusto and Internacional striker Alexandre Pato.\
In the report, the Flamengo's number 10 is called the "new Kaká" and claims that the current Spanish champion has been following in the players' footsteps for some time. However, what could hinder Real's ambitions is the players' high release clauses. Flamengo is asking for around R$30 million, while Internacional is releasing Alexandre Pato for R$25 million.