The story of the Tri in Copinha
Find out how Flamengo's previous title campaigns went
By Lucas Dantas - Flamengo Communications - in
The fight for the fourth São Paulo Junior Football Cup title began in 1990, with a squad full of stars and a special generation created at Gávea. Flamengo won its first trophy in the competition almost 27 years ago. Only six days separate the anniversary of that victory, on January 31, 1990, from today's game against São Paulo.
Adriano, Junior Baiano, Piá, Marquinhos, Fabinho, Marcelinho, Luís Antônio, Djalminha, Paulo Nunes, and Nélio were part of the championship-winning squad in that edition, which two years later lifted the Brazilian pentacampeonato (fifth consecutive championship) at the Maracanã, against Botafogo, under the command of Júnior, Gottardo, Gaúcho, and Gilmar, coached by Carlinhos.
The 1990 campaign was almost perfect. There were 11 games, seven wins, three draws and only one defeat. The most memorable moment, besides the final, obviously, was the 7-1 thrashing of Corinthians, with a superb performance by Djalminha, who scored five goals at the Pacaembu stadium.
In the final, at the same stadium, Flamengo faced Juventus, the famous team from Mooca, and with a fantastic goal by Junior Baiano, lifted their first Copinha trophy.
The second title took 21 years, but it came in 2011. César, Negueba, Frauches, Rafinha, Lucas, and Adryan propelled Flamengo to their second title in the competition, which had already entered a period with many teams and groups. In that edition, 92 teams were divided into 23 groups, and Flamengo was placed in Group K, along with Mogi Mirim, São José, and Gurupi.
In the first phase, a draw (Mogi 0x0), a rout (Gurupi 1x7) and another victory (São José 0x3) put Flamengo into the next stage. There were two matches against football giants. In the second phase, a 2x2 draw with Cruzeiro and qualification on penalties (5x3). Then, a simple victory against São Paulo in the round of 16 (1x0). In the quarterfinals, a rout over Coritiba (6x2) made it clear who would be the favorite from then on. The semifinal, however, was complicated. After a 0x0 draw, César saved one in the penalty shootout and Flamengo won 3x0, qualifying for the final.
The final match, now played on the anniversary of the city of São Paulo, took place in a packed Pacaembu stadium filled with Flamengo fans. Seven minutes into the first half, captain Frauches opened the scoring, sending the crowd into raptures. At the 30-minute mark, Bahia equalized with a penalty. And in the second half, Negueba, also from a penalty, scored the second goal, securing the Carioca championship.
It took 21 years to get their second title, but the third didn't take long. In their third Copinha final, Flamengo lifted their third title in 2016, in front of a packed Pacaembu stadium, under a scorching sun, against Corinthians, in a penalty shootout. A victory born from the grit and determination traditional to the youth teams that wear the Sacred Mantle (Flamengo's jersey).
If the 92 teams in the 2011 edition were already daunting, this one had 112, divided into 28 groups. Flamengo was in group 24, alongside Red Bull Brasil, Palmeira, and União Mogi. In the first phase, Flamengo dominated. Three wins in three games (2-1, 5-1, and 3-1, respectively).
In the second phase, a resounding victory over Brasília, 3-0. A rematch against Red Bull Brasil in the following game ended with another victory for the Rio team, 1-0. The winning streak ended with a draw against Bahia in the fourth phase, which went to penalties, where Flamengo won 5-4 and advanced. In the quarterfinals, they eliminated São Paulo (2-0), in the semifinals they beat América Mineiro (2-1) and faced Corinthians in the final.
The São Paulo team took the lead, going up 2-0 in the first half. With the majority of the fans in the stadium, the city's team grew stronger and put pressure on Flamengo's defense. Returning for the second half, Trindade reduced the deficit just three minutes in. Twenty minutes later, Matheus Sávio equalized, silencing the Pacaembu stadium. The match went to penalties. That's when goalkeeper Thiago shone, made a mistake, shone again, and wrote a chapter in Flamengo's history.
In the final Corinthians penalty shootout, tied 4-4, Thiago saved Gabriel's shot. Flamengo took the lead. Thiago himself took the next penalty, but Corinthians goalkeeper Felipe made the save, keeping the score level. In the alternating penalties, Thiago shone again, saving Claudinho's shot. Then, Patrick had his chance, scored, and Flamengo won their third championship.
Watch FlaTV relive the penalty shootout goals.
Adriano, Junior Baiano, Piá, Marquinhos, Fabinho, Marcelinho, Luís Antônio, Djalminha, Paulo Nunes, and Nélio were part of the championship-winning squad in that edition, which two years later lifted the Brazilian pentacampeonato (fifth consecutive championship) at the Maracanã, against Botafogo, under the command of Júnior, Gottardo, Gaúcho, and Gilmar, coached by Carlinhos.
The 1990 campaign was almost perfect. There were 11 games, seven wins, three draws and only one defeat. The most memorable moment, besides the final, obviously, was the 7-1 thrashing of Corinthians, with a superb performance by Djalminha, who scored five goals at the Pacaembu stadium.
In the final, at the same stadium, Flamengo faced Juventus, the famous team from Mooca, and with a fantastic goal by Junior Baiano, lifted their first Copinha trophy.
The second title took 21 years, but it came in 2011. César, Negueba, Frauches, Rafinha, Lucas, and Adryan propelled Flamengo to their second title in the competition, which had already entered a period with many teams and groups. In that edition, 92 teams were divided into 23 groups, and Flamengo was placed in Group K, along with Mogi Mirim, São José, and Gurupi.
In the first phase, a draw (Mogi 0x0), a rout (Gurupi 1x7) and another victory (São José 0x3) put Flamengo into the next stage. There were two matches against football giants. In the second phase, a 2x2 draw with Cruzeiro and qualification on penalties (5x3). Then, a simple victory against São Paulo in the round of 16 (1x0). In the quarterfinals, a rout over Coritiba (6x2) made it clear who would be the favorite from then on. The semifinal, however, was complicated. After a 0x0 draw, César saved one in the penalty shootout and Flamengo won 3x0, qualifying for the final.
The final match, now played on the anniversary of the city of São Paulo, took place in a packed Pacaembu stadium filled with Flamengo fans. Seven minutes into the first half, captain Frauches opened the scoring, sending the crowd into raptures. At the 30-minute mark, Bahia equalized with a penalty. And in the second half, Negueba, also from a penalty, scored the second goal, securing the Carioca championship.
It took 21 years to get their second title, but the third didn't take long. In their third Copinha final, Flamengo lifted their third title in 2016, in front of a packed Pacaembu stadium, under a scorching sun, against Corinthians, in a penalty shootout. A victory born from the grit and determination traditional to the youth teams that wear the Sacred Mantle (Flamengo's jersey).
If the 92 teams in the 2011 edition were already daunting, this one had 112, divided into 28 groups. Flamengo was in group 24, alongside Red Bull Brasil, Palmeira, and União Mogi. In the first phase, Flamengo dominated. Three wins in three games (2-1, 5-1, and 3-1, respectively).
In the second phase, a resounding victory over Brasília, 3-0. A rematch against Red Bull Brasil in the following game ended with another victory for the Rio team, 1-0. The winning streak ended with a draw against Bahia in the fourth phase, which went to penalties, where Flamengo won 5-4 and advanced. In the quarterfinals, they eliminated São Paulo (2-0), in the semifinals they beat América Mineiro (2-1) and faced Corinthians in the final.
The São Paulo team took the lead, going up 2-0 in the first half. With the majority of the fans in the stadium, the city's team grew stronger and put pressure on Flamengo's defense. Returning for the second half, Trindade reduced the deficit just three minutes in. Twenty minutes later, Matheus Sávio equalized, silencing the Pacaembu stadium. The match went to penalties. That's when goalkeeper Thiago shone, made a mistake, shone again, and wrote a chapter in Flamengo's history.
In the final Corinthians penalty shootout, tied 4-4, Thiago saved Gabriel's shot. Flamengo took the lead. Thiago himself took the next penalty, but Corinthians goalkeeper Felipe made the save, keeping the score level. In the alternating penalties, Thiago shone again, saving Claudinho's shot. Then, Patrick had his chance, scored, and Flamengo won their third championship.
Watch FlaTV relive the penalty shootout goals.