Atlético-PR increases Flamengo's suffering
Lopes wins the duel between the dinosaur coaches and sinks the red-black team even deeper into crisis
Photo caption: RENATO AUGUSTO, who had a poor performance, is fouled by Valencia, in Flamengo's defeat in Curitiba
CURITIBA. And it was Ney Franco's fault... In the duel of the dinosaurs, the oldest won. Antônio Lopes' Atlético-PR defeated Joel Santana's Flamengo 2-0 last night at Arena da Baixada. The result lifted the Paraná team out of the relegation zone and plunged Flamengo deeper into a seemingly endless crisis in this Brazilian Championship.
With 12 points, the Rio de Janeiro team seems unlikely to be able to escape the danger zone any time soon. As soon as the game began, Marcelo showed Flamengo's long-standing knack for scoring. Two minutes in, André Rocha headed the ball into the six-yard box from a corner from the right. Rodrigo Arroz couldn't track the ball, and Marcelo stepped in unmarked to score his third goal of the Brazilian Championship and his fifth for Flamengo this year—in the Guanabara Cup, he scored all four in Madureira's 4-1 rout in Moça Bonita.
Early goal highlights Flamengo's defensive flaws
The early deficit caused the notorious red-and-black blackout. With key players like Roger and Renato Augusto missing, the midfield was creating nothing. Even so, in the 10th minute, Guilherme saved a powerful shot from Juan. In the 12th minute, the Rio team claimed a penalty on Renato Augusto. In an attack in the 20th minute, Paulo Sérgio headed the ball over Guilherme, but Rodolpho prevented the goal.
Atlético-PR only threatened again and exposed the fragility of the Flamengo defense in the 40th minute. A high ball into the six-yard box, Irineu watched, and Marcelo headed it, forcing Bruno to make a good save. Flamengo's defense was so stunned that they were clashing heads and arguing. To such an extent that Irineu and Leonardo Moura argued, shoved, and nearly came to blows.
"It was a normal game discussion," Irineu said at halftime. "We conceded a silly goal due to our mistake and we have to go after them."
Prosecutor requests annulment of Souza's trial
Flamengo returned for the second half with Paulinho replacing Ronaldo Angelim. Just as they were improving their attack, they conceded their second goal in the 14th minute, a combination that made the lack of protection in front of the defense evident. Edno played a one-two with Marcelo and Ferreira, shooting with his left foot. Bruno still hit the ball, but couldn't prevent it from gently crossing the goal line. At the end, the Paraná fans chanted "olé," but Joel Santana, prudently, remained as he had been throughout the game: silent.
To make matters worse, Souza, suspended for five games by the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) for his sending-off against Grêmio, could have his sentence increased. Luis Felipe Carrapatoso, a prosecutor for the Superior Court of Justice (STJD), filed an appeal requesting the judgment be annulled.
Yellow cards: Valencia, Roger, Rodolpho, Netinho, Paulo Sergio, Juan.
Sports Journal
With a goal from the executioner Marcelo, Fla loses to Furacão at the Arena
Pedro Sá pedrosa@jsports.com.br
Paulo Sérgio dominates the ball. The striker had a lackluster performance in Flamengo's defeat.
Once again, striker Marcelo crossed Flamengo's path. After scoring four goals for the Red-Blacks while playing for Madureira, the striker made his mark once again in Atlético-PR's victory on Wednesday night at Arena da Baixada. With the result, Furacão improved its situation slightly, but still sits in 15th place with 22 points. Flamengo remains in the relegation zone with 12 points.
Flamengo entered the field determined to achieve a good result and escape the relegation zone. However, two minutes into the match, striker Marcelo threw cold water on the Flamengo's ambitions. Defender André Rocha headed the ball from a corner kick, and Marcelo slotted it into the net. The early goal stunned Joel Santana's team, and the players became nervous, abusing their right to misplace passes. Ten minutes in, midfielder Ibson lofted a ball to Juan, who struck hard, but goalkeeper Guilherme made a good save.
Atlético-PR didn't attack much, but when they did, they threatened Bruno's goal. This was mainly through Ferreira, the driving force behind the Paraná team. Flamengo sent balls into Atlético's box, but sometimes the Paraná defense cleared them, sometimes the cross was poorly delivered. Goalkeeper Bruno still had time to save the Rio team after Marcelo's header. It was a rather uneventful end to a first half.
With the score down, Flamengo had no choice but to attack Furacão, but the red-and-black team left openings for Atlético's counterattacks. And on one of the counterattacks, full-back Edno scored the second goal after a one-two with Marcelo and a Ferreira screen. Joel Santana took off Obina, who had been a non-starter for the team, and brought on Biancucchi. The Argentine came on well, adding a quality touch in midfield and linking up well with Roger. Flamengo had a great chance to reduce the lead and perhaps even intensify the match, but Atlético's defense blocked shots from Paulo Sérgio and Renato Augusto.
The team from Paraná kept the ball moving, exploiting the gaps left by full-backs Juan and Leonardo Moura with each attacking run. Despite counterattacks, the score remained unchanged, and Flamengo continued its agony. Judging by the results on the field, coach Joel Santana will have his work cut out to lift the club out of the relegation zone.
Justice sticks to Souza like a tick
Souza may have to appear again before the Superior Court of Sports Justice. The striker's nightmare isn't over yet.
Striker Souza is expected to face the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) again for his red card in the match against Grêmio. On that occasion, the striker allegedly elbowed supporter Tcheco and then slapped him off the field. Last Monday, Souza was banned for five matches after Flamengo's lawyer, Michel Assef Filho, overturned a situation that seemed difficult for the striker.
Yesterday, prosecutor Luis Felipe Carrapatoso filed an appeal against the First Disciplinary Committee's punishment of the athlete, seeking an increase. Carrapatoso noted that Souza is a repeat offender, having previously been sent off in the match against Figueirense in this year's Brazilian Championship.
The club's lawyer explained the case:
"I haven't yet received the subpoena, so I can't prepare my defense. I need to know what the prosecutor will base his accusation on. As soon as we receive the subpoena, we will try to challenge the case," Assef said.
Juniors draw
Flamengo's U-19 team debuted yesterday in the Club World Cup in Malaysia, drawing 1-1 with Milan. Adílio's team took the lead. Pedro Bêda opened the scoring, but the Italians soon equalized through Aubameyang. The team's next match is tomorrow at 9:40 am (Brasília time) against Arsenal. Unlike the professional team, the match lasts only 70 minutes.
Flamengo athletes who competed in the Pan American Games will be honored
On its return to Maracanã, Flamengo will take advantage of the game against Náutico this Saturday, at 18:10 pm, to pay tribute to the athletes who honored the club's colors during the Pan-American Games.
The ceremony will be organized by the club's Olympic sports department. Personalized diplomas and medals will be awarded to all athletes who participated in the event. In total, 23 athletes and four coaches represented the red-and-black club in six sports.
On the day of the game, Flamengo will receive the Pan-American Sports Merit Medal from the Rio de Janeiro City Council, through the vice president of Olympic sports, Patrícia Amorim.
Check out the list of red-and-black athletes who will be honored.
Rowing: Nilton Alonso, Thiago Gomes, Thiago Almeida, José Carlos Sobral Junior, Leandro Loureiro, Renata Görgen, Kissya Cataldo and Deborah Amorim.
Artistic Gymnastics: Diego Hypólito, Victor Rosa, Danielle Hypólito and Jade Barbosa\ Coach: Renato Araújo\
Synchronized Swimming: Caroline Hildebrandt, Gláucia Heier, Michele Frota and Giovana Stephan\ Coach: Roberta Perillier\
Water Polo: Marina Canetti, Manuela Canetti and Cecília Canetti. Assistant Coach: Antonio Canetti
Judo: Leonardo Leite Technique: Rosicléia Campos
Football: Marcelo Carné, Lucas Galdino and Michel Macedo
Flamengo presents the racing car model
In a talk held Wednesday afternoon, Flamengo's vice president of marketing, Ricardo Hinrichsen, launched a new project for the club: Flamengo will participate in the Super League, a motorsports competition featuring the world's biggest clubs. Flamengo is the only club outside Europe to have confirmed its participation.
"It's a testament to the club's brand. We're the first club from outside Europe to represent Brazil. As far as we know, there's no objective criterion for the invitation. It's based on visibility, brand size, and we're the most popular club in Brazil," said Ricardo Hinrichsen.
The teams that have already confirmed their participation in the Super League are: Milan-ITA, Borussia Dortmund-GER, Olympiakos-GRE, Anderlecht-BEL, Porto-POR, PSV-HOL, and Flamengo. According to the vice president of marketing, Flamengo will not spend any money on this project. They will only provide the brand and benefit from sponsorships and television rights, in addition to the club's brand awareness. Ricardo Hinrichsen did not disclose the amount Flamengo will receive from the contract and sponsorships.
Each team will have a car and a driver. The driver for the red-and-black team has not yet been chosen, but one of the favorites for the position is Gualter Salles, who has competed in Formula Indy and Stock Car. The only requirement, according to Hinrichsen, is that the driver be a fan of the red-and-black club.
All cars will have 750 horsepower. Each will have three sponsorship spaces for official competition sponsors and their own. Flamengo's car, which is expected to arrive in Brazil in two weeks, will likely be unveiled at Maracanã. For now, these are just Ricardo Hinrichsen's plans.
O Dia
Atlético-PR beats Fla and returns to winning ways after 5 games
CURITIBA - Father Benedito, from the Parish of Saint Jude Thaddeus, will need an extra dose of holy water. On Monday, at the request of Flamengo's board, he will go to Gávea to bless the club, which is languishing in second-to-last place. On Wednesday, the team lost again. This time, Atlético-PR defeated them 2-0. The consolation is that Flamengo fought until the end.
The three-man defense, intended to try to close down the team, didn't seem effective, as Atlético-PR opened the scoring in the second minute. A shot from the right was headed by full-back André Rocha, and Marcelo, a regular scorer for Flamengo (he scored four in a single game for Madureira), slotted the ball home.
In the 10th minute, Flamengo gave the Paraná fans a scare. Juan received the ball from Ibson and unleashed a powerful shot, which was well saved by goalkeeper Guilherme, who prevented the goal. The Rio de Janeiro team perked up and, with grit, began to attempt more attacking moves. In the 20th minute, Rodrigo Arroz headed the ball dangerously into the box, but the defense saved. During a good attacking move, Obina lost his balance and lost his chance to score.
If they couldn't successfully finish their goal attempts, at least the red-and-black team showed a desire. But Atlético-PR also wanted to play, and in the 39th minute, Bruno saved a dangerous header from Marcelo. After a poor marking, Irineu clashed with Léo Moura.
At the start of the second half, at 11, Paulo Sérgio crossed to Obina, but defender Danilo saved.
LACK OF AIM
In a strange move, Edno shot, Bruno tried to save, but the ball stopped just inches inside the goal: 2-0, in the 14th minute. Soon after, Roger crossed, Maxi shot, and on the rebound, Renato Augusto tried to score, but the defense saved.
Flamengo continued trying to score until the end, but the players' lack of aim and restlessness did not change the score.
Flamengo presents motorsport car project
Rio - This Wednesday, Flamengo revealed its design for its racing car, which will compete in Superleague Formula, a new motorsports category. All cars will have 750 horsepower and will feature the colors of their respective clubs. Flamengo will represent the South American continent.
The category will begin next year, and the Rubro-Negro will join clubs such as Milan, Porto, PSV Eindhoven, Olympiacos, Borussia Dortmund, and Anderlecht. President Márcio Braga is enthusiastic about the new project.
"We are very proud to be part of this initiative and to have the opportunity to take the Flamengo name and its glory in other sports to a new competitive category: motorsports, where we will certainly maintain our tradition of fighting for the title," said Márcio Braga to Flamengo's official website (www.flamengo.com.br).
The vehicles will be manufactured by Panoz/ELAN Motorsport Technologies in the United States, while the 12-hp V750 engines are being developed by Menard Competition Technologies (MCT) in Leafield, England, ensuring a balanced performance. In total, the Superleague Formula will compete on six of Europe's best racetracks.
Sports Gazette
Heads down, Flamengo players say little after defeat
By correspondent Luiz Felipe Fagundes
Curitiba (PR) - Flamengo's players left the Kyocera Arena pitch practically monosyllabic after their 2-0 loss to Atlético Paranaense. The result leaves the Rio de Janeiro team in the relegation zone, having gained 12 points, and still without a victory for coach Joel Santana. For Léo Moura, the situation is becoming increasingly complicated, and the players and coaching staff need to come together to find a solution. "It's difficult. If we don't come together to try to get out of this situation, it won't work," the player analyzed. Renato Augusto, meanwhile, is calling for calm for the next round. "I think now is the time to cool off, analyze everything that happened, and wait for the next game," he said.
Flamengo's situation is precarious, and even with four games in hand, the light at the end of the tunnel is fading. On Saturday, the team hosts Náutico at Maracanã Stadium. Until then, the coach will have to control the situation, as Irineu and Leonardo Moura argued and shoved each other during the match, and at the end, goalkeeper Bruno and midfielder Roger refused to speak to the press.
Hurricane beats Flamengo in a desperate duel
By correspondent Luiz Felipe Fagundes
Curitiba (PR) - In a desperate duel between Flamengo and Atlético Paranaense, Atlético Paranaense took advantage of their home game and defeated Flamengo 2-0, moving a little further out of the relegation zone and reaching 22 points. Meanwhile, the Rio de Janeiro team remains in second-to-last place with 12 points, but still with four games in hand. Cheered on by the crowd, the Furacão took the lead immediately. Two minutes into the first half, after a corner kick, André Rocha headed the ball and Marcelo finished into the net. In the 14th minute of the second half, the Furacão sealed the victory with Edno, who received the ball at the edge of the box after a one-two. Bruno tried to save, but the ball went in softly.
In the next round, Atlético Paranaense, which ended a five-game winless streak, travels to São Paulo, where on Saturday at 18:10 p.m. they will face the league leaders Tricolor Paulista at Morumbi Stadium. Flamengo, on the same day, hosts Náutico at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
The game – Needing a result, both teams went on the attack, creating a lot of action in the opening minutes. Two minutes in, after a corner kick, André Rocha deflected the ball to the far post, and Marcelo tapped it into the back of the net. Mengão tried to level the playing field, but faced strong marking from the red-and-black team from Paraná. And the answer almost came in the 11th minute, when Juan received the ball in the box and shot across goal, forcing Guilherme to make a good save.
Flamengo had more possession, but they couldn't put any moves together, misplacing many passes. In the 20th minute, after a free kick, Roger headed the ball past Atlético's goalkeeper, but Rhodolfo cleared it off the line. A heavy foul, the game was constantly stopped by the referee. In the 35th minute, Obina received the ball freely but missed when he was about to take a shot.
The Hurricane threatened in the 39th minute. Marcelo rose with a free header, and Bruno tipped it in for a corner. The response came in the 43rd minute, with a long-range shot that Guilherme saved in two attempts. In the 45th minute, it was Edno's turn to try his luck, and the ball hit the outside of the net. The atmosphere was tense in the Rio de Janeiro team, and Irineu and Leonardo Moura exchanged shoves in the box.
In the second half, Flamengo started pressing but found a real barrier in front of them, as Atlético began to wait to capitalize on counterattacks. In the fourth minute, Netinho made an individual play and shot, but to Bruno's right. In the ninth minute, Dinei hit a cross-shot, but it went wide.
Mengão threatened from a set piece. In the 12th minute, Juan took a free kick that went just wide of the crossbar. But in the 14th minute, Furacão extended their lead. Edno played a one-two, received the ball at the edge of the box, and fired a low shot. Bruno tried to save, but the ball slipped into the net. In the 23rd minute, Renato Augusto fired a shot from outside the box, but it went too high, going over the goal.
An incredible move in the 26th minute. Roger sent a low cross into the box, Renato Augusto deflected it, Guilherme parried it, and after much confusion, Atlético's defense cleared the ball from the six-yard box and conceded a corner. In the 36th minute, Ibson took a long-range shot; the ball deflected off the defense and nearly fooled the Paraná goalkeeper. Flamengo, lacking strength, was unable to muster a final reaction. In the 44th minute, Juan crossed, but the defense cleared.
Flamengo closer to motorsport
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Seeking new markets, Flamengo presented its car design for Superleague Formula on Wednesday, a new category that aims to feature a competition between cars representing soccer teams. Alex Andreu, president of the category, was pleased with the Rio de Janeiro club's likely participation. "We want to see the best clubs in the world fighting for victory in Superleague Formula. Flamengo's entry is a great way to solidify our championship as one of the most important on the global stage," he said enthusiastically.
So far, Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Borussia Dortmund, Anderlecht, Olympiakos, and Porto have confirmed their participation in the competition. The organization expects to have 20 teams. Six races will be held in the inaugural season, scheduled for next year. It's worth noting that the same company will be responsible for producing the cars and engines, with the goal of making the Superleague Formula competitive.
PeléNet
Atlético-PR recovers, breathes and can put Fla back in last place
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
After five games without a win, Atlético-PR bounced back in the Brazilian Championship. This Wednesday, in Curitiba, the team defeated Flamengo 2-0, ending their drought and moving away from the brink of relegation. Meanwhile, the Rio de Janeiro team remained in second-to-last place, but could return to last place by the end of this 18th round.
Right at the start, Atlético-PR took advantage of a "sleep" by the opposing defense in a set piece to open the scoring after 2 minutes of play with striker Marcelo, who confirmed his reputation as Flamengo's executioner.
In the second half, Flamengo coach Joel Santana abandoned the 3-5-2 formation by replacing midfielder Paulinho with defender Ronaldo Angelim. The Rio de Janeiro team improved slightly, as did the Paraná team, which subtly raised the game's level. After a good exchange of passes, Atlético-PR extended their lead with Edno in the 14th minute.
With the victory, Atlético-PR reached 22 points and rose from 16th to 15th place. At least until this Thursday, when Corinthians, which has 20 points, faces Vasco at São Januário.
"The team is evolving, and a victory like this, against a great opponent, gives the group confidence," commented Atlético-PR coach Antônio Lopes.
With the defeat, Flamengo now has 12 points and remains in 19th place. However, the team will drop to last place at the end of this round if América-RN beats Grêmio in Porto Alegre this Thursday.
Furthermore, the Rio de Janeiro team, which lost to Santos in the last round, suffered its second consecutive defeat tonight - the second in two games under the command of Joel Santana, who promised, evasively, to take action.
"It's not the time to talk a lot, it's the time to make decisions," said the enigmatic coach, who criticized his team's lack of attention.
"We know that Atlético-PR's strength is set pieces. So, the team can't concede a goal in two minutes, with seven players in the box compared to their four. It's a lack of attention from a team that's in this situation," he continued.
Now, Flamengo will attempt to bounce back next Saturday at 18:10 p.m., when it returns to play at the Maracanã, against a direct rival in the relegation battle: Náutico. On the same day and time, Atlético-PR will try to get back on track by facing São Paulo at the Morumbi Stadium.
After second defeat, Joel promises 'attitude' at Flamengo
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
After returning to Flamengo for his fourth stint with the club, coach Joel Santana suffered his second defeat in two games in charge. Therefore, after Wednesday's setback against Atlético-PR in Curitiba in the Brazilian Championship, the coach promised to take action to pull the team out of the relegation zone.
According to Joel, the first step was already taken tonight in the locker room. However, the coach declined to go into detail. "We'll move forward tomorrow [Thursday]. It's not time to talk much, but to make decisions," the enigmatic coach said, completely evasive.
Although he avoided discussing the incident, the coach did offer a hint. He expressed considerable irritation with the players' lack of attention in the two matches Flamengo played under his command since his return—the 3-0 defeats to Santos and the 2-0 defeat to Atlético-PR.
"We know that Atlético-PR's strength is set pieces. So, the team can't concede a goal in two minutes with seven players in the box compared to their four," Joel said, referring to the play that led to Atlético-PR's first goal. "It's a lack of attention from a team in this situation," he continued.
With Flamengo losing 1-0 in the first half, Joel Santana made changes in the second half, swapping the 3-5-2 formation for a 4-4-2: he put midfielder Paulinho in place of defender Ronaldo Angelim, midfielder Léo Lima - who barely touched the ball - in place of midfielder Ibson and midfielder Maxi Biancucchi in place of striker Obina, the only one who posed any threat to the opposing goal.
However, Flamengo couldn't equalize and even conceded a second goal. At the end of the match, Joel lamented that the changes didn't have the desired effect. "We tried a new formation. We'll give it time. But Flamengo needs to be more competitive in the Brazilian Championship," Joel concluded.
Léo Moura and Irineu exchange shoves during Fla's defeat
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Flamengo's 2-0 loss to Atlético-PR this Wednesday in the Brazilian Championship heated up the spirits of the Flamengo players. During the match, right-back Leonardo Moura and defender Irineu got into a heated argument and even shoved each other on the field.
As usual, those involved in the argument tried to downplay the incident. "It was a game-related argument, about marking. We argued, but that's normal. We needed the result," Irineu said.
"This happened because we want to win. So, we have to hold our teammates accountable. I want them to hold me accountable too. Irineu is my friend," said Leonardo Moura.
The public debate among the players reflects the pressure on Flamengo. With the loss to Atlético-PR, the team remains in second-to-last place in the Brazilian Championship, with 12 points from 14 games—four fewer than most of its rivals.
However, tonight's defeat could sink Flamengo back to last place in the competition. América-RN has ten points and will overtake the Rio de Janeiro team if it beats Grêmio this Thursday in Porto Alegre. Interestingly, it was after a loss to the Rio Grande do Sul team that the Flamengo dropped to last place, on July 22.
STJD prosecutor wants to increase punishment for Flamengo's Souza
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Dissatisfied with the sentence handed down to striker Souza, Paulo Schmitt, the attorney general of the Superior Court of Sports Justice, wants to extend the Flamengo player's suspension. He said Wednesday that the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) prosecutor's office is already studying the case to schedule a new trial.
"There is the possibility of appeal. The penalties applied in the articles do not correspond to the proportionality of the acts committed. Therefore, the prosecutor's office is studying this possibility," Paulo Schmitt told Rádio Tupi, who did not specify the new punishment he considered fair.
Judged by the First Disciplinary Committee of the STJD last Monday, Souza was punished with a five-game suspension due to incidents that occurred in the match against Grêmio, in Porto Alegre, on July 22, for the Brazilian Championship.
On that occasion, the athlete was sent off for striking midfielder Tcheco with his arm during a dispute over the ball. Later, upon leaving the field, the red-and-black player punched the opponent while he was being treated by Grêmio doctors off the field.
Therefore, Souza was initially reported under two articles of the CBJD (Brazilian Code of Sports Justice): 253, which deals with the practice of physical aggression against the referee, assistants or any other participant in the sporting event, providing for a suspension of 120 to 540 days, and 254, related to the practice of violent play, with a penalty of two to six games offside.
However, the reporting auditor of the case, Rodrigo Castilho Ribeiro, after hearing the defense's arguments, the testimony of Souza and that of the only witness, goalkeeper Diego, also from Flamengo, downgraded the first accusation to article 258, which deals with an attitude contrary to discipline and sporting morals, providing for suspension of one to ten matches.
The five voters disagreed on the same punishment. Therefore, after a meeting to discuss the penalties imposed by each of the auditors, they supported changing the article under which the athlete was charged (from 253 to 258), giving him a two-game suspension. However, the inclusion in 254 resulted in a three-game suspension.
That's why, at the end of the trial, Souza celebrated. "This result was a victory for me. Of course, I wanted to be acquitted and return as soon as possible, but since there was a possibility of a greater punishment, the result was positive," the striker said last Monday.
Souza has already been automatically suspended for one match following his red card against Grêmio. Therefore, he still has to serve another four-match suspension, at least for now. If the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) prosecutors do indeed file an appeal, the striker will be tried by the full court.
Flamengo Junior draws with Milan in its debut in an international tournament
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Led by coach and former player Adílio, Flamengo's juniors drew 1-1 with Milan this Wednesday, in the teams' debut in an international tournament for the category held in Malaysia.
The Brazilian team took the lead with a goal from Pedro Beda, who came on as a second-half substitute, eight minutes into the second half. However, the Italian club tied the game with 13 minutes remaining.
As there was also a 0-0 draw between Arsenal and Ajax in the other match valid for group A of the tournament, Flamengo and Milan lead the group by the number of goals scored.
Next Friday, at 9:40 a.m. (Brasília time), Flamengo plays its second game in the competition, against Arsenal. Before that, at 7:45 a.m., Ajax and Milan face off.
BalloonSport
Joel promises changes at Fla
Coach reveals that he will talk to the board to take some action
Coach Joel Santana will have a serious conversation with Flamengo's executives this Thursday in Gávea. The coach admitted he will make changes to the Flamengo team for the upcoming rounds of the Brasileirão. The manager declined to reveal the measures that will be taken, but he already knows what he intends to do with the Rio de Janeiro team's squad.
The coach didn't admit it, but there's a possibility that some players will be removed from the Flamengo squad. Joel hopes to make all decisions in conjunction with Flamengo's board.
"It's not time to talk much. It's time to make decisions. There wasn't much time to do between the São Paulo match and this one. Now, let's get to Rio de Janeiro and talk to the directors," says the red-and-black coach, who saw his team lose 2-0 to Atlético-PR this Wednesday.
Fla's defense and attack don't work
Rubro-Negro did not score any goals under Joel Santana and conceded five
Coach Joel Santana will have little time to fine-tune Flamengo's defense and attack for Saturday's Brazilian Championship match against Náutico at Maracanã. In two games, the coach has seen his team concede five goals and score none. Against Santos, the Rubro-Negro lost 3-0. This Wednesday, the Furacão won 2-0.
In both matches, Joel tried to keep his defense to a minimum. Ronaldo Angelim and Irineu played in both matches. In the match against Furacão, Rodrigo Arroz was the third defender.
In attack, the coach has already tested three game situations. In the match against Santos, Obina was the lone striker. This Wednesday, the Black Angel played alongside Paulo Ségio. In the second half, the youngster paired with Maxi Biancucchi. The Argentine, incidentally, was the better of the three in the defeat at Arena da Baixada.
Paulo Sérgio out of Fla's next game
Striker receives third yellow card and will not face Náutico next Saturday
Forward Paulo Sérgio will miss Flamengo's Brazilian Championship match against Náutico next Saturday at the Maracanã stadium. He picked up his third yellow card in the 2-0 loss to Atlético-PR at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba.
In addition to the player, coach Joel Santana will not be able to count on striker Souza, who has been suspended for five matches by the First Disciplinary Committee of the Superior Court of Sports Justice.
Without both players, the coach is likely to field Obina and Maxi Biancucchi in Saturday's match against the team from Pernambuco.
Fla will honor Pan athletes
Gymnasts Jade Barbosa and Diego Hypolito, gold medalists, will be at Maracanã
From news agencies in Rio de Janeiro
Reuters\ Jade Barbosa was one of the sensations of Rio 2007 and will be honored\
After 56 days away from home, Flamengo will take advantage of its return to Maracanã, next Saturday, at 18:10 pm, against Náutico, to pay tribute to the athletes who defended the club's colors at the Pan American Games in Rio.
The event will be organized by the club's Olympic sports department. Personalized diplomas and medals will be awarded to all athletes and coaches who participated. Twenty-three athletes and four coaches from six sports participated.
On the same day, the club will receive the Pan-American Sports Merit medal from the Rio de Janeiro City Council, through the vice-president of Olympic sports at Rubro-negro, Patrícia Amorim.
Find out who the honorees are:
Rowing: Nilton Alonço, Thiago Gomes, Thiago Almeida, José Carlos Sobral Junior, Leandro Loureiro, Renata Görgen, Kissya Cataldo and Deborah Amorim.
Artistic Gymnastics: Diego Hypolito, Victor Rosa, Daniele Hypolito and Jade Barbosa. Coach: Renato Araújo.
Synchronized Swimming: Caroline Hildebrandt, Gláucia Héier, Michele Frota and Giovana Stephan. Coach: Roberta Périllier.
Water Polo: Marina Canetti, Manuela Canetti and Cecília Canetti. Assistant Coach: Antonio Canetti.
Judo: Leonardo Leite. Technique: Rosicléia Campos.
Football: Marcelo Carné, Lucas Galdino and Michel Macedo.
Juniors debut with a draw in Malaysia
Flamengo's youngsters draw 1-1 with Milan and return to play next Friday
» See photos of Flamengo's juniors in Malaysia
Flamengo's youth team drew 1-1 with Milan in their Malaysia International Tournament debut this Wednesday. Flamengo earned a point in Group A of the competition. Next Friday, Adílio's team will face Arsenal of England in Alor Star at 9:40 a.m. (Brasília time).
Flamengo started the match better, but only scored their goal in the 11th minute of the second half. Pedro Beda, the team's top scorer in the Belo Horizonte Cup campaign, opened the scoring. Milan fought back and equalized in the 25th minute with Pierre Aubameyang.
Games in the Malaysia International Tournament last 70 minutes (35 minutes each half) and not the traditional 90. The competition is still being contested by clubs such as Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United.
Throw
Hurricane takes down Flamengo at the Arena again
Rio de Janeiro team loses 2-0 and remains unbeaten away from home
Full-back Juan regrets another missed chance (Credit: Felipe Gabriel)
Edgard Maciel de Sá
And the writing continues. Flamengo was defeated by Atlético Paranaense 2-0 on Wednesday night at Kyocera Arena, and remains winless at their opponent's home ground. They now have seven games under their belt, with six losses and one draw. Marcelo and Edno scored for the Hurricane.
With the result, Flamengo remains in the Brasileirão relegation zone with 12 points from 13 games, occupying second-to-last place. Furacão moved up to 15th place with 22 points.
The game had barely started and goalkeeper Bruno's net was already shaking. Two minutes into the match, Atlético Paranaense took a corner kick from the right, André Rocha headed it against the near post, and Marcelo finished at the far post to open the scoring. The striker has always enjoyed scoring against Flamengo, whether playing for Fluminense or Madureira, when he scored four times against Flamengo in the 2007 Campeonato Carioca.
Despite the lightning goal, Flamengo was undeterred and went in search of an equalizer. The first good chance came from Juan in the tenth minute. The full-back received a good pass from Ibson and shot hard, but Guilherme made a fine save. While the team struggled to rally, coach Joel Santana remained calm on the sidelines and rarely shouted at his players.
Flamengo even called for a penalty on Renato Augusto in the 12th minute and saw Obina score an offside goal a minute later. And it didn't stop there. The team from Gávea, with their spirit, might not have played brilliantly, but they kept running and constantly threatening Atlético's goal. The home team simply defended and sought counterattacks.
With more momentum, the Rio de Janeiro team nearly equalized in the 20th minute, after a header by Rodrigo Arroz slipped past goalkeeper Guilherme and was saved by Rodolpho almost on the line. Despite the chances, Flamengo couldn't convert the opportunities they created into goals. Encouraged by their fans, Flamengo began to pass the ball around more and got back into the game. And Marcelo, always Marcelo, nearly scored the second in the 40th minute. After a cross, the forward headed powerfully, and Bruno tipped it in for a corner.
As the game drew to a close, Fla defender Irineu showed confidence in the comeback.
- We're going for it in the second half. We're playing better, and their goal came from a silly mistake.
For the second half, Joel took off Ronaldo Angelim, the best defender up to that point, and brought on Paulinho, switching his team from a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2. The change didn't work, and the team came back stronger. Netinho nearly extended the lead in the fourth minute, but his shot went wide.
Flamengo tried to organize itself but ran into its own limitations and couldn't replicate the momentum it had earlier in the match. The Furacão simply waited for its moment to attack and try to extend its lead. And, just like in the first half, the Paraná team didn't take long to score. Edno made a good play, passing to Marcelo in the box, who passed to Ferreira. The defender simply set up the ball for Edno to shoot past goalkeeper Bruno: 2-0.
Trailing by two goals, Joel decided to opt for Argentine Maxi Biancucchi and take off Obina. The game's trajectory changed little. Atlético, satisfied with the result, passed the ball around and waited for time to pass. Flamengo occasionally created danger, such as when Renato Augusto shot one-on-one with Guilherme and the Atlético goalkeeper saved, but it didn't go any further.
The game ended and Joel Santana suffered his second defeat in charge of the team and realized that he will have a lot of work to do to get things in order this time.