The Globe
FLA-FLU: Tricolor ignores the red-black majority and ends the opponent's streak of good results at Maracanã
Flu decides the classic with two lightning goals
Somália and Thiago Neves secure victory in front of 61.042 people, a new record for the Brazilian Championship
Photo caption: RUBRO-NEGRO GOALKEEPER Bruno kneels after the first goal for the team, scored by striker Somália, one minute into the game.
This time, not even the fans could save Flamengo. Even with the stands packed with red-and-black fans, it was the Tricolor fans who celebrated yesterday at Maracanã, which welcomed a crowd of 73.616, with a paying attendance of 61.042, a new Brazilian Championship record. With goals from Somália and Thiago Neves, Fluminense won 2-0, halting Flamengo's run, which had been unbeaten in 11 games at the stadium. It was the team's first loss in front of its home crowd under Joel Santana.
Thiago Neves scores on his return to the team
Surrounded by high expectations, the Fla-Flu match started electrifyingly. Within a minute, Alex Dias launched Somália, who, despite being awkward, opened the scoring. A considerable lead that not even the most optimistic Tricolor could have imagined.
Flamengo, who had started with a more cautious formation, with Toró paired with Souza, was forced to launch an attack, which perhaps was not the intention of coach Joel Santana, as he opted for Toró, when he had attackers on the bench.
Flamengo, driven by grit, could have equalized in the 12th minute when Toró was brought down by Fabinho at the edge of the box. Juan's shot was poor. Two minutes later, Alex Dias received the ball unmarked in the box but was entangled by Bruno's exit. He still flicked the ball toward goal. Fábio Luciano chested it down. Alex Dias called for a penalty, but Bruno wasn't pleased, and there was a lot of pushing and shoving in the Flamengo box. No one was punished.
Well-marked, Juan and Leonardo Moura had no freedom to support. But, pushed by their fans, they took control of the match and cornered Fluminense in the final minutes of the first half. Despite the pressure, the Tricolor defense, very well positioned, held the advantage.
The second half began much like the first. With their first attack, Fluminense made it 2-0. Two minutes in, Arouca made a great play and passed to Somália. The shot deflected off Rômulo and fell to Thiago Neves, who was returning to the team after renewing his contract, to add to the score.
With no alternative, Flamengo went all out on the attack. But they created little. Meanwhile, Flamengo, well-positioned, waited for the right moment to counterattack. In the 20th minute, Alex Dias missed the chance to extend the lead after a great pass from Somália. Unmarked by Bruno, the Tricolor striker sent the ball over the bar.
Flamengo still insisted with high balls, but at no point were they able to overcome the tricolor defense, which performed impeccably.
Yellow cards: Romeu, Junior Cesar, Leo Medeiros, Revenue: R$1.045.504 Attendance: 73.616. Paying attendance: 61.042.
FLA-FLU: Flamengo players say that goals conceded at the start of both halves disrupted planning
For Fla, the price of victory over the leader was high
Joel and the players think the team felt tired from the game against São Paulo and regret disappointing the large crowd.
Photo caption: IBSON TRIES to control the ball, closely marked by the tricolor striker Somália: the midfielder did not repeat his good performances and seemed tired at the end
Carlos Eduardo Mansur
The goals conceded early in both halves derailed everything coach Joel Santana had planned. However, the red-and-blacks agreed that, in yesterday's Fla-Flu match, the team paid the price for the effort put in on Thursday night, when they enjoyed their greatest moment in the Brazilian Championship, defeating leaders São Paulo.
For coach Joel Santana, the team had little time to recover. On the eve of the derby, as if fearing the worst, Flamengo's coaching staff limited training time at Gávea. The goal was to avoid further burnout.
"It's already October, and the gap between the two games was very small. Fluminense was smart in this regard, because they sped up the game right from the start," said Joel.
Game against Paraná takes on decisive contours
For defender Fábio Luciano, fatigue also played a significant role in the defeat:
- Of course, the game against São Paulo was a factor. But we can't use that as our only excuse.
Another concern in Flamengo's locker room was the breakdown of an alliance that had been the team's mainstay in this Brazilian Championship. After 13 unbeaten matches, Flamengo lost again at Maracanã. And precisely in a derby where its fans were the overwhelming majority in the stadium. Yesterday's game, attended by 73.616 people, broke a new Brazilian Championship record. The club earned a net share of approximately R$380.
"I hope the fans don't see this defeat as a bucket of cold water. We can afford it. If we beat Paraná, we'll get back in a good position," said Fábio Luciano.
Coach Joel Santana also lamented the way the team conceded the decisive goals at the start of both halves.
"The circumstances of the game were very cruel to us, especially emotionally. We planned one thing for the game and conceded a goal within a minute. At halftime, in the locker room, we talked again and conceded another goal right at the start," said the coach.
The result dropped the team to 13th place in the Brazilian league. Flamengo, which had been dreaming big before the derby, now sits just three points above the relegation zone. On Saturday, the team faces Paraná, one of the bottom four teams.
"I always said I couldn't think about anything higher until we got close to 50 points," said Joel Santana. "It'll be a six-point game against Paraná."
For Saturday's match against Paraná, Joel Santana will have Maxi back in attack. He served a suspension in the Fla-Flu match. Another piece of good news could be the return of Renato Augusto, who is recovering from a muscle injury.
FLAMENGO
BRUNO: He wasn't required to do much yesterday. He couldn't do anything about both goals. 5.
LEONARDO MOURA: Well-marked, he ran a lot, but rarely managed to reach the baseline. He finished the game exhausted. 6,5.
FÁBIO LUCIANO: He had a good duel with Somália, but the Tricolor striker had the upper hand on some occasions. 5,5.
RONALDO ANGELIM: He was being played by Alex Dias. The good thing was his willingness to play in the derby. 5,5.
JUAN: He didn't repeat his recent good performances. Without space to support, he ended up getting mixed up in the middle. He also performed poorly on free kicks. 5.
RÔMULO: As the team conceded a goal very early and went on the attack, it ended up having no function. 5.
JAÍLTON: He wasn't good. He made a lot of mistakes and couldn't protect the defense. 4. LÉO MEDEIROS came on and didn't add anything. 4.
CRISTIAN: This time he didn't do well. He played too far from the attack and didn't get a single shot on Fernando Henrique's goal. 5.
IBSON: Hero of the victory over São Paulo, yesterday he couldn't develop his full potential. He made too many misplaced passes. He looked tired. 6.
TORÓ: Good in the first half, when he moved around a lot and confused the Tricolor defense. He came off tired. 5,5. KAYKE came on to join Souza, but did nothing. 3.
SOUZA: Stuck between Fluminense's defenders, without mobility, he produced little. 4.
JOEL SANTANA: Somália's lightning goal was crucial to Flamengo's poor performance, as they played a cautious game. The coach's three substitutions were useless. 5.
REFEREEING\ Gutemberg Fonseca performed well. He controlled the match discreetly and issued the yellow cards correctly.\
FLA-FLU: Because of the national team game, teams used auxiliary changing rooms
Party inside, chaos outside
Fans call for peace at Maracanã, but police are working around the stadium
Photo caption: ABSOLUTE MAJORITY: Flamengo fans once again turned out in large numbers, filling two-thirds of the Maracanã yesterday
Photo caption: TRICOLOR ANIMATION: Fluminense fans sang a new song and came out victorious
On a Sunday that saw record attendance in the Brazilian Championship—61.042 paying fans and 73.616 in attendance—Flamengo fans once again made up the overwhelming majority yesterday, as has been common in the competition. The difference is that yesterday, the Military Police were forced to give up the entire white seating section to accommodate the red-and-blacks, leaving only a third of the Maracanã stadium to the Tricolor fans. Despite the rivalry, the afternoon was peaceful inside the stadium, while, in the surrounding area, the 300 Military Police officers responsible for security had their work cut out to control the tensions.
Before the game, while both teams were watching highlights of the iconic Fla-Flus match on the big screens, there was chaos on Avenida Radial Oeste, where shots were fired. At the ticket booths near the Bellini statue, those trying to buy tickets at the last minute also faced a large crowd, but according to Major Marcelo of the Military Police, there were no injuries.
Due to preparations for Brazil's World Cup qualifying match against Ecuador at the stadium on the 17th, Flamengo and Fluminense used the Maracanã's auxiliary locker rooms. But when they took the field, the players were treated to a beautiful spectacle. The Flamengo players sang the new hit they performed in their midweek victory over São Paulo, which speaks of grit, love, and passion. Although outnumbered, the Tricolor fans also sang a new song, whose lyrics speak of the pride of supporting the club. At the end of the 90 minutes, this love for the Tricolor prevailed.
Marcelinho debuts for Flamengo with a victory in the classic against Flu
Point guard leads the red-black team in the State Basketball Championship
Photo caption: MARCELO, the standout player in the match between Flamengo and Fluminense, is surrounded by three Tricolor opponents
Claudio Nogueira
In the first of two Fla-Flus matches played this Sunday, the red-and-black team prevailed in basketball. In a game marked by Marcelinho's debut for Flamengo, his favorite club, the team from Gávea defeated its traditional rival 91-86, early yesterday afternoon at the Tijuca gymnasium, in the State Basketball Championship.
It was Flamengo's second victory in two league matches, while Fluminense/Pitágoras/Unimed suffered their first defeat in the competition after four wins. Today at 19 p.m., the Tricolor returns to play in Laranjeiras against Iguaçu, strengthened by their partnership with Praia de Uberlândia.
CBB President Confirms Foreign Coach
Flamengo's top scorer with 24 points, Marcelinho had a special Sunday, participating in the derby for the first time as a player for his childhood team, playing alongside his younger brother Duda and having the support of his older brother, physiotherapist Ricardo, on the bench. As if that weren't enough, on the other side, as the tricolor's Olympic sports director, was the father of the three, Renê Machado.
"What mattered was the victory. We alternated the pace a lot, and we have a lot to talk about and work out. After the game, my father came and congratulated me on the victory. The fans turned out and it gave me goosebumps on the court," said the Brazilian national team's winger.
Without hiding his emotions, Renê said he suffered in the confrontation with his children.
"I never imagined it would be so difficult to root against my kids. Someone asked me if it wouldn't be better if I didn't come, but I can't stay away because I work for Fluminense. And, fortunately, my kids are doing a very good job," he analyzed, having played basketball for 19 years.
Due to these emotional elements, the rivalry, and the on-court duel, the first State Championship derby had everything expected. Taking a 10-0 lead with Alírio at 7:04 remaining in the first quarter, Flamengo dictated the pace of the period, which ended 26-21 in their favor. In the second quarter, with three-pointers from Marcelinho, Aniel, and Fernando Mineiro, Flamengo closed the first half 56-41.
After halftime, Flamengo led by 17 points, leading 67-50. However, Fluminense, which was suffering from the absence of injured center Mãozão, began to see center Wanderson as its best hope for a comeback. Led by him, Flamengo scored 26 points to Flamengo's 19 in this period, bringing the score to 75-67 at the end of the third quarter. Nervous, both teams made numerous mistakes early in the final period. Fluminense evened the score but was unable to close the gap. In the end, Flamengo won 91-86.
Flamengo: Duda (10), Marcelinho (24), Fernando Mineiro (14), Alírio (9) and Colonese (8). Entered: Helio (5), Wagner (4), Aniel (6) and Maicon (11). Fluminense: Sucatzky (21), Mauro, Soró (4), Wanderson (33) and Romário (8). Entered: Luis Felipe (5), André (30, Marcio (10) and Michel (2).
Present at the game, the president of the Brazilian Basketball Confederation, Gerasime Grego Bozikis, confirmed that he is considering the name of a foreign coach to take over the men's team, probably in November or early December, with a view to the World Pre-Olympic Championships in July.
Also yesterday, at Caio Martins, Vasco/Universo crushed Recreio/Volta Redonda by 106 to 57. The day before yesterday, in their debut, Vasco had beaten Iguaçu by 81 to 56.
O Dia
Order in Gávea: never give up. The fight continues.
Rio - Captain Fábio Luciano is beginning to learn the ropes at Flamengo. The team was coming off two straight wins at Maracanã, where they hadn't lost in 11 games. The fans were excited, and everything seemed fine in the Gávea kingdom. But Fluminense stood in the way of Flamengo's recovery. Despite yesterday's loss, Fábio Luciano urges the team to do as the fans do and never lose heart.
On Saturday, the team will face Paraná (in the relegation zone), in a game that, according to the red-blacks, is worth six points.
The defender's advice is to avoid the careless mistakes that led to the two unexpected goals early in each half. "We were doing well in the championship, but that early goal threw us off our game. But I hope the discouragement doesn't get the team down, much less the fans, who are so excited."
The defender recalled that the defense had not conceded a goal in two games and, therefore, this defeat should not be seen as 'a cold shower' in the dream of seeking a place in the Libertadores.
Coach Joel Santana feels the same way. He knows the team was emotionally shaken after the lightning goals and that they couldn't find their bearings tactically on the field. But the coach understands that a victory over the Paraná team in Curitiba will help the Red-Blacks get back on track.
"This defeat won't shake us or destabilize everything we've been building. There's not much we can say about improving the players' mental health. We'll need to work harder to correct the team's positioning errors," the coach emphasized.
Joel hopes that midfielder Renato Augusto is fully recovered from his left thigh injury and can return to the team, as are Roger and striker Leonardo, who was injured on Saturday. Striker Maxi, who was suspended, returns to the team. "We'll try to get the team back on track to win in Curitiba."
Basketball: Flamengo beats Fluminense 91-86
Rio - Flamengo won its first match this Sunday against Fluminense in the Rio de Janeiro men's basketball championship. The game was played at the Tijuca Tênis Clube gymnasium, and the red-and-black team won 91-86. The top scorer of the match was Wanderson, with 33 points. For the red-and-black team, debutant Marcelinho was the top scorer with 24 points.
Sports Gazette
Joel admits that Fla performed poorly and asks for attention with the relegation
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - After the 2-0 loss to Fluminense, Flamengo coach Joel Santana admitted that his team didn't perform well. He said the Red-Blacks didn't replicate the performances that kept them out of the relegation zone. "It really wasn't our day. You can't win all the time," said the manager, who also highlighted his opponent's tactical discipline. "Fluminense remained closed and mounted good counterattacks, especially with Thiago Neves," he stated.
With the defeat, Flamengo remains at 40 points, three above the relegation zone. According to Joel, this moment requires caution. "We can't escape this group of teams. We need to consolidate our position before thinking about other things," he explained.
However, the coach made it clear that there is no crisis at Gávea. "The Brazilian Championship is very even, and one day we were bound to lose. But that won't shake or destabilize our team," he concluded.
Fluminense defeats Flamengo at Maraca\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - In a classic that set a new attendance record for the Brazilian Championship, Fluminense avenged its first-round defeat and defeated Flamengo 2-0 on Sunday night at the Maracanã. More than 61 people watched the Tricolor das Laranjeiras score goals at the start of each half and defeat the red-and-black team, which barely threatened its rival in the absence of Argentine Maxi. It was Joel Santana's first defeat at the Maracanã since taking over at Flamengo.
With the victory, Fluminense reached 47 points and moved into sixth place, while Flamengo remained in 40th place with 13. In the next round, Flamengo will face Paraná in Curitiba, while Fluminense will host São Paulo.
Some fans were still settling into the stands when Fluminense opened the scoring with their first attack. Alex Dias crossed from the right, and Somália, a bit clumsy, hit the ball into the right corner past goalkeeper Bruno.
It took Flamengo ten minutes to recover from the blow and find their feet on the field. Once they found their footing, Fabinho brought down Toró at the edge of the box, but Juan's shot was poorly placed and missed the chance.
In the 13th minute, it was Fluminense's turn to create a good chance with Alex Dias, who failed with a bicycle kick. After the play, goalkeeper Bruno, very irritated, tried to attack the Tricolor striker, but the referee ignored the disagreement. Bruno showed his anger again, trying to attack Somália after making a save. The referee, once again, did not punish the red-and-black goalkeeper.
From the 20th minute onward, Flamengo took control of the match, with midfielder Toró excelling, roaming the pitch. Fluminense, however, to the dismay of coach Renato Gaúcho, focused solely on getting rid of the ball with long balls, allowing their opponents to continually attack with the ball under their control.
In the 29th minute, Juan received an excellent pass from Toró, but was slow to finish and ended up dispossessed. Four minutes later, Thiago Silva nearly scored an own goal by deflecting a cross from Léo Moura. In the 40th minute, in the last important play of the first half, the referee awarded a free kick just outside the Fluminense penalty area, a decision that was highly contested by the Tricolor, but Juan again fired the shot into the wall.
The second half began much the same way as the first. Just three minutes in, Fluminense scored their second goal. Somália received the ball on the right side of the box, crossed it, and Thiago Neves cut in from the left to finish.
The goal left Flamengo completely disoriented and coach Joel Santana decided to make changes to try to give more strength to the attack, which easily reached the vicinity of Fluminense's area, but was unable to finish with any danger to Fernando Henrique's goal.
Fluminense had a chance to score a third goal in the 19th minute, when Somália made an excellent play and passed to Alex Dias, who shot wide when he was free in the penalty area. Flamengo continued to struggle to exchange passes and could only create good plays through right-back Leonardo Moura, who couldn't find his teammates in good conditions.
While Flamengo despaired, Fluminense continued to miss chances, and in the 40th minute, it was Alex Dias' turn, who burst free and shot wide, just as Somália, unmarked, was demanding the ball to finish. In the final minutes, Fluminense still missed two chances through Alex Dias, while Flamengo simply watched the Tricolor party.
Juan criticizes team after defeat in the classic
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - After the 2-0 defeat in the Fla-Flu match, Juan was irritated by his team's performance. According to the left-back, the Rubro-Negro lost to a team that didn't play well at Maracanã. Outraged, the player struggled to explain the reasons for the negative result. "We needed to play well and be focused. We've been playing well, and now we've done just that," he declared.
The athlete also emphasized that Fluminense merely tried to neutralize Flamengo. "Fluminense didn't do anything special to win. They just scored," he said.
Defender Fábio Luciano believes the fatigue from the 1-0 victory over São Paulo hampered the derby. "We couldn't play. Maybe because of Thursday's effort, we weren't performing," he explained. "But we can't give up, because we won't win every game. Now we have to do everything we can to beat Paraná."
With the result, Flamengo remains at 40 points, in 13th place. Next Saturday, the team faces Paraná at Durival de Britto.
PeléNet
For Ibson, Flamengo was careless in the Rio derby
From the Editorial Office\ In São Paulo\
A hero in the victory that ended São Paulo's 16-game unbeaten streak in the Brazilian Championship, midfielder Ibson couldn't replicate his performance in Flamengo's loss to Fluminense this Sunday. He also lashed out at his Flamengo teammates, claiming they lacked drive on the field.
"We were careless, especially at the start of the first and second halves. We couldn't replicate our performance against São Paulo," the player said. "We didn't play well and weren't focused. We lost to a team that's not even that great to beat us by two goals," he raged.
Defender Fábio Luciano was more measured in his criticism of Flamengo's performance. "Nobody played well in the game, we didn't show what we know and what we can do. We can't hang our heads and let this cold shower affect us. We have to correct the mistakes we made today to beat Paraná [next Saturday] and still pursue our dream of qualifying for the Copa Libertadores," he analyzed.
The Gávea team is in 13th place in the Brazilian Championship with 40 points, ten behind the qualification zone for the continental tournament.
According to the defender, Flamengo's formation—with three defensive midfielders—didn't contribute to the setback. "Our style of play didn't hurt us. We just underperformed. Even with only one creative player, Cristian performed well in previous matches, coming from behind to create danger," he concluded.
For defender Ronaldo Angelim, the early goal undermined the team's planning. "Fluminense was superior, they were fortunate to score early. The second goal made things much more difficult, making it difficult to come back," he commented.
Coach Joel Santana followed the defender's line of thinking and said he believed that the wear and tear in the previous two matches were fundamental in the defeat.
"We came off two very strong matches, against Atlético-MG and São Paulo, and we weren't able to recover physically in time," he analyzed. "When you concede a goal early on, all your psychological and on-field planning goes to waste. We had to push forward and left a lot of space. But they played well and built the deserved victory on the counterattack."
With record attendance, Flu beats Fla on Thiago Neves' return
From the Editorial Office\ In São Paulo\
After the saga surrounding midfielder Thiago Neves' renewal, Fluminense entered the field more focused for the Rio derby and beat Flamengo 2-0. The victory featured a lightning goal from striker Somália, scored just two minutes into the match, and another from the new 'star' of the Tricolor.
This Sunday's game also broke the attendance record in the Brazilian Championship, as more than 61 paying spectators (around 73 in total) watched the match - the previous record, 59.098 paying spectators, had occurred in the red-black victory over the leader São Paulo, last Thursday.
Despite having already secured its place in the 2008 Copa Libertadores da América by winning the Copa do Brasil, Fluminense came closer to qualifying for the continental tournament by remaining in sixth place, with 47 points, three behind Palmeiras, the last team to appear in the select group.
Flamengo, which had won two consecutive matches, was once again on alert due to the threat of falling into the relegation zone - it has 40 points, three ahead of the relegation zone.
After two rounds without Thiago Neves—the player was sidelined before extending his contract for another three years—Fluminense started the match with full force and scored in the second minute. Playing on the right, Alex Dias sent a three-finger cross to Somália. The striker's shot was awkward but managed to beat goalkeeper Bruno.
At a disadvantage, Flamengo took control of the match and dominated the rest of the half. Joel Santana's team relied on lofted balls into the box and nearly equalized thanks to two poor clearances from goalkeeper Fernando Henrique, which frightened the Tricolor fans.
"It's tough, no one expected this pressure. We'll try to use more counterattacks to surprise in the second half," said Somália as he headed to the locker room. "It's crucial that we remain calm in the final 45 minutes to create more opportunities to extend our lead," added Júnior César.
The advice seemed to pay off, as Flamengo was the one who came out eagerly in the second half. Fluminense capitalized on their archrival's desperation and extended their lead. Seemingly a repeat of the opening game, the team from Laranjeiras scored their second goal in the third minute, when Arouca broke free and left Somália alone in the box. The striker crossed low for Thiago Neves to tap in, scoring his tenth goal in the National Championship – when he was substituted last Sunday, the team's seven-game unbeaten streak in the National Championship ended, against Paraná.
The desperation grew even more intense, and Flamengo failed to create any threat beyond aerial balls. In their best attempt, a corner kick saw defender Fábio Luciano head the ball into the box, but no one could connect.
More organized, Flu failed to score a third goal after two missed opportunities by Alex Dias.
BalloonSport
Flu silences Fla and its fans at Maraca
Tricolor wins the classic with the biggest audience in the Brazilian Championship
Fla-Flu is an unpredictable and captivating derby, but it has a unique twist that the Tricolor fans know well. If Flamengo comes out swinging, with an overwhelmingly ecstatic crowd, like this Sunday, which saw a record attendance in the Brasileirão, the winner is usually the many-time champion, Tricolor das Laranjeiras. They did what coach Renato Gaúcho asked and silenced the red-and-black fans with two lightning goals, one in each half, the first by Somália (watch the video of the goal above) and the second by Thiago Neves.
Fans were still looking for a seat when Tricolor, taking advantage of a lapse in the red-and-black defense, opened the scoring. Alex Dias lifted the ball into the box from the right side of Fluminense's attack, and Somália took a slow shot, but the ball slid neatly into the right corner of goalkeeper Bruno's goal, cooling the red-and-black crowd, which was already preparing a show similar to the one in the match against São Paulo. With the goal, the Tricolor fans, smaller but no less enthusiastic, pushed the team forward, and Fluminense almost scored another. In the 14th minute, Alex Dias missed a great chance in the penalty area, causing Bruno to become more excited than he should have been. Following the play, the Tricolor forward once again missed the chance to extend the lead.
Under threat from Fluminense, Flamengo came to their senses on the field and once again got the fans going. In the 17th minute, Leonardo Moura got past Junior Cesar and forced a good save from Fernando Henrique. A few seconds later, Ibson unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the Tricolor box, which flew just wide of the Tricolor goalkeeper's right post.
The red-and-blacks' best chance of the first half came in the 30th minute. Juan received a beautiful pass from Toró, but got tangled up with the ball at the edge of the Fluminense penalty area, allowing the Tricolor fans to make the tackle.
The Tricolor, which had been ceding ground to Flamengo, was solid in defense, especially with the duo of Thiago Silva and Luiz Alberto. Gabriel, starting for the first time since returning to Fluminense, wasn't playing well, but his life was made easier by Juan's poor performance. It was on the Tricolor right flank that Fluminense almost extended their lead with the last good chance of the first half, but Gabriel, after receiving a beautiful pass from Alex Dias, shot straight at the red-and-black defense.
Film repeated at the start of the second half\ The second half started similarly to the first. The Flamengo fans, already regaining the strength to lead the team to a draw, watched, just three minutes in, as Arouca made a beautiful play in the middle, unsettlingly dribbling past Juan and sprinting to leave Somália in excellent position on the right flank of the Tricolor attack. The striker raised his head and found Thiago Neves free to score Fluminense's second goal.\
With the advantage, Fluminense controlled the game, forcing Flamengo to misplace passes and shots, especially on set pieces, which had already driven Cristian to despair in the first half. Joel then brought on Kayke and Léo Medeiros for Toró and Jailton, but the overall situation remained unchanged. Fluminense could have scored more goals with Somália Alex Dias and Luiz Alberto, but their primness ultimately hindered them. And Alex Dias's poor accuracy made it a night to forget. If the Tricolor striker had hit half his shots, Fluminense would have thrashed Flamengo, but the Tricolor fans didn't care at all, so much so that the 2008 Carnival began as soon as the referee blew the final whistle.
Ibson claims the team was careless
Ronaldo Angelim regrets conceding a goal so early, in the first minute of the game
Leaving the pitch after the 2-0 loss to Fluminense, Flamengo midfielder Ibson (watch the highlights) criticized the red-and-blacks' performance on the field. Flamengo's number 7 lamented the team's failure to perform as well as it did against São Paulo.
"We were careless, especially at the beginning of the first and second halves. We couldn't repeat our performance against São Paulo," he laments in an interview with Rádio Globo.
Defender Ronaldo Angelim considered that the goal early in the match jeopardized the team's entire planning.
"Fluminense was superior, they were fortunate to score the early goal. The second goal was quite difficult, and it was difficult to react. Now it's time to work on trying to get a win against Paraná," he says.
Fábio Luciano thanked the fans for their support and said that the defeat will not upset Fla.
"They did their part, they showed up. We made a lot of mistakes. A defeat isn't going to hinder our work," he says.
Joel says the team felt the wear and tear
Coach compares Flamengo's defeat to São Paulo's defeat to Corinthians
Fred Huber
After Flamengo's 2-0 loss to Fluminense this Sunday (watch the highlights below), coach Joel Santana said the players were feeling the strain from the match against São Paulo, played last Thursday at Maracanã. The coach believes the São Paulo team, which lost to Corinthians, also suffered physical problems. He, however, acknowledged that Fluminense deserved the three points.
"It was a grueling game, and it seems the same thing happened with São Paulo. Fluminense played well, and it was a deserved victory. We conceded a goal early, and we played too much inside... Today wasn't our day," he analyzes.
When asked about the role of the full-backs, key players in the formation, in Sunday's match, Joel preferred not to single out any individual players. The coach lamented conceding a goal so early.
"The team as a whole didn't do well. They agitated the game, we conceded a goal, we had to push forward and create space," he says.
Fábio Luciano: 'Defeat doesn't ruin work'
Just like Joel, Fla's captain says the team felt the strain of Thursday's game
Fred Huber
Flamengo's 2-0 loss to Fluminense (watch the highlights below) this Sunday ended a long unbeaten streak at the Maracanã stadium. Defender Fábio Luciano believes the result won't destabilize the team, which is recovering in the championship. The Flamengo captain complained about the team's excessive number of passing errors, which made things easier for Fluminense.
"We misplaced a lot of passes and created a lot of counterattacks. They knew how to exploit our mistakes and neutralize our strengths. They knew our team very well. We'll fix it now and lift our heads. This defeat won't ruin our work. We're on the right track," he affirms.
Like coach Joel Santana, Fábio Luciano said that the strain of the intense match against São Paulo last Thursday hampered the team's performance. He doesn't believe the team's style of play, without a specific player in the creative department, was decisive in the poor result.
"We can't blame the tactics; we were winning like that. We felt a bit of the wear and tear from the match against São Paulo," he says.
Fla takes the lead on Sunday's classics
In the first Fla-Flu of the day, the red-blacks lead Tricolor to its first defeat in the 2007 Carioca
Marcelinho sets up a play in his debut for Flamengo this season
Flamengo took the lead in the first Fla-Flu match this Sunday, October 7th. The team from Gávea defeated Fluminense, 91 to 86, at the Tijuca Tênis Clube Gymnasium and caused the Tricolor to lose the first game in the 2007 Carioca Men's Basketball Championship. Later, at 18:10 p.m., the two clubs will face each other in the Brazilian football championship at Maracanã.
In Marcelinho Machado's debut for Flamengo, the Pan American champion with the Brazilian national team did not disappoint, leading the Flamengo team with 24 points. It was Flamengo's second victory in the state championship. The first victim was Volta Redonda, who lost 95-45.
Despite the loss, Tricolor das Laranjeiras, which is competing in the competition against Minas Gerais, had the game's top scorer - Wanderson, with 33 points - and remains in the lead of the Carioca Championship. This is because Flu has already played five matches (4 wins and 1 loss).
With the ball in play
Flamengo played better for much of the match, opening up a 15-point lead at the end of the first half, when they were winning 56-41. Upon returning to the court, Fluminense began a comeback, but were unable to turn the score around.
"Our team had ups and downs in the match, but what really matters is the victory. The fans helped, but we have a lot to fix," says Marcelinho.
The presence of the red-and-black fans at the Tijuca Gymnasium was also highlighted by the tricolor Wanderson, the game's top scorer.
"The team felt the pressure from the opposing fans. Almost no one here had ever been to a derby. We also missed Maozão, who is injured," says the power forward.
Coach: Paulo Chupeta.
Coach: Flávio Davis.
Renato Augusto returns against Paraná
Player starts training with the rest of the group next Monday
Marcio Iannacca
Joel has been without Renato Augusto since September 16th. Midfielder Renato Augusto will return to training with the rest of the group next Monday. Having recovered from a muscle problem, the player will be available for coach Joel Santana to use in the match on the 14th against Paraná, in Curitiba.
Renato Augusto's last match for Flamengo was the derby against Vasco on September 16th. Since then, the athlete has been recovering.
"Renato Augusto will be available to Joel starting next week. He's currently with Ronaldo Torres (the fitness coach). He'll be available for the match against Paraná," says doctor Marcelo Soares.
Joel: 'One day I would have to lose'
The red-black coach regrets not having beaten Flu and moved up the league table
Fred Huber
The 2-0 loss to Fluminense (watch highlights of the match below) on Sunday ended Flamengo coach Joel Santana's unbeaten run at the Maracanã. The Flamengo manager said that personal success isn't the most important thing. He lamented the loss of the team's chance to continue climbing the table.
"What bothers me is the result. If we had won, we would have jumped to sixth or seventh. One day I would have had to lose at Maracanã, unfortunately, it was today (Sunday). A win against Paraná, away from home, would have fixed this result somewhat," he says.
After the victory against leaders São Paulo, some fans and players' thoughts turned to the fight for a spot in the Copa Libertadores. The poor result against Fluminense reminded Joel Santana that they must first escape the danger of relegation.
- The thought is on the 50 points - he decrees.
Throw
Flu gets the better of Flamengo in the classic
Well-armed, Tricolor wins 2-0 and cools Flamengo's spirits in the search for a place in the Libertadores
Flu takes advantage of goals in the opening minutes and wins the classic against Fla (Credit: Paulo Wrencher)
Rafael Ximenes\ Fluminense avenged a 1-0 defeat in the first round of the Brazilian Championship by winning 2-0 against Flamengo this Sunday at the Maracanã in the 30th round of the national competition. With the result, the Tricolor reached 47 points and remains in sixth place, while the Rubro-Negro, with 40, dropped to 13th place.\
In the first minute, the 73 spectators (61.042 paying), a record attendance in the Brasileirão, saw Alex Dias launch Somália into the box. The striker struck first time, half with his shin, and ended up surprising goalkeeper Bruno: 1-0 Fluminense.
The goal didn't faze Flamengo, who pushed forward in search of an equalizer, and it could have happened in the 11th minute. Toró passed Fabinho, who handled the ball inside the box. Referee Gutemberg de Paula Fonseca mistakenly called the foul outside the box. Juan's shot hit the wall.
Fluminense threatened again and almost scored a second through Alex Dias. The striker had two chances. The first, he chipped the ball over goalkeeper Bruno, but lost his balance and couldn't finish. On the next play, a rebound in the box, and Alex shot wide.
The match continued to be lively, with chances at every turn. Léo Moura and Ibson threatened Fernando Henrique's goal. After 20 minutes, the game began to slow down, with Flamengo dominating the attack, seeking an equalizer. Tricolor relied on counterattacks, but overused long balls and failed to create any real danger.
Just like in the first half, Fluminense scored early. Two minutes in, Arouca led the counterattack and provided a beautiful assist for Somália. The striker's cross-shot deflected off Rômulo and fell to Thiago Neves, who simply had to tap it into the back of the net.
Needing to bounce back, Joel Santana made two changes: Toró and Jaílton were removed, and Léo Medeiros and Kayke were brought in. But the coach stuck with the same defensive midfielders. The changes were ineffective, and Fluminense came closest to scoring. Alex Dias, on two counterattacks, missed the chance to score a third. The score remained 2-0.
In the next round, Flamengo faces Paraná, away from home, while Fluminense takes on leaders São Paulo, at Maracanã.
Flamengo fans celebrate despite the defeat
Classic broke attendance record for the Brazilian Championship
Buoyed by victories over Atlético-MG and São Paulo at Maracanã, both 1-0, Flamengo fans turned out in excellent numbers and supported the team the entire time in this Sunday's classic against Fluminense, in the 30th round of the Brazilian Championship.
Despite the 2-0 defeat, the red-black fans didn't stop singing and cheering the team on throughout the ninety minutes.
The victory song, which gained national prominence in Flamengo's 1-0 victory over São Paulo last Thursday, was the fans' favorite chant. Sunday's game broke the Brazilian Championship attendance record. Around 73 people attended the Maracanã, with 61.042 paying spectators.