Thiago Barros

Sports Journal

Rio de Janeiro - The ball is rolling for the finals of the Metropolitan Futsal Championship. Flamengo, the reigning state champion, hosts Canto do Rio this Friday at 20 p.m. at the Hélio Maurício Gymnasium in Gávea, in the first leg of the competition's quarterfinals. Coach Cid Escarlate's team is going full strength for the match and wants a victory to give them an advantage in the playoff next Tuesday in Niterói. The red-and-black team has had two weeks to prepare for this match. Some players, such as Saulo and Jaxwell, have already recovered from injuries and are confirmed for the match. The team's starting lineup includes Rafael Pazos, Magrão, Henrique, Xandó, and Diego. On the bench are Franklin, Saulo, and Jaxwell, three key options for coach Cid Escarlate. "It was a good time for us to prepare, for the injured players to recover, and I believe the team will be at full strength to achieve this result. Everyone is stepping up their game, with more intense training. Everyone was very discouraged there, but these hours give us an extra boost," analyzes the experienced Franklin. The Gávea team's opponent is considered dangerous by the red-and-blacks. For the players, beating Canto do Rio will not be an easy task. However, it is possible, especially if the team maintains its traditional red-and-black spirit. "They've been playing together for a while and play with great determination, but beating them there is difficult. That's why we have to win here. They can't have more desire than us, and I believe the teams are at similar levels in terms of quality, but we can win," he adds. PEC thrashes VascoPoker/PEC/Ikinha is getting closer and closer to qualifying for the next stage of the 2009 Futsal League. Last Wednesday night, the team from the Lagos Region thrashed Vasco 4-0 (Alvim, Cupim, Bruno, and Marcinho) at the UCP Gymnasium in Bingen, Petrópolis. With this result, the Petrópolis team has 24 points and is in 6th place. Mathematically, they are three points away from nine points to secure their place in the next stage of the competition. Poker/PEC/Ikinha's next match will be tomorrow against Corinthians/São Caetano, at 19 p.m., at the UCP Gymnasium in Petrópolis. Next week, the two teams will face each other again in the quarterfinals of the Metropolitan Championship, on Monday and Friday.