BASE SOCCER AGENDA – OCTOBER 15-21
By Ian Sena - in- U-20:
Nova Iguaçu x Flamengo - Wednesday (17) at 10 am, in Nova Iguaçu.
Flamengo x Carapebús - Saturday (20) at 15 pm, in Gávea.
Competition: Otávio Pinto Guimarães Tournament
After debuting with a 4-0 home win over Audax last Saturday, Flamengo's U-20 team, led by coach Marcio Torres, has two more matches in the first phase of the Otávio Pinto Guimarães Tournament (OPG) this week. Away against Nova Iguaçu on Wednesday, and at home against Carapebús on Saturday, they will conclude their participation in the tournament's rapid group stage and seek qualification for the next stage of the competition.
Played in a short period of time, the OPG Tournament has only three matches in the first phase, with the top two teams qualifying for the next phase. A new group of four teams will be formed, and after home-and-away matches, only the leader of each group will qualify directly for the tournament final. The biggest winner, the Mais Querido, is fighting for its tenth title in the traditional tournament.
- U-17:
América MG x Flamengo - Wednesday (17) at 15 pm, at the Alterosas Stadium (Belo Horizonte).
Competition: Copa do Brasil (Round of 16)
Flamengo x Fluminense - Sunday (21) at 15 pm, in Gávea.
Competition: State Championship (Semifinal – Second leg)
Another decisive week lies ahead for coach Phelipe Leal's men. This Monday night, the "Garotos do Ninho" hit the road for Belo Horizonte, where they'll face América MG on Wednesday in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil, seeking a strong result to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of this prestigious national competition.
Back in Rio, on Sunday, the Red-Black team will turn its attention to the second leg of the State Championship semifinal. After a 2-1 loss last Saturday in Laranjeiras, a simple victory against Fluminense, this time in Gávea, will be enough for the Mais Querido to secure a spot in another State final and fight for a third consecutive championship against Vasco or Botafogo, who face off in the other semifinal.
- U-15:
Flamengo x Botafogo - Sunday (21), at 10 am, in Gávea.
Competition: State Championship (Semifinal – Second leg)
After winning the Guanabara Cup with a near-perfect record of 16 wins, one draw, and only one loss, coach Mário Jorge's team defeated Botafogo 2-1 away from home in the first leg of the State Championship semifinal last Saturday, putting them one foot in the final. To secure qualification, they can even lose by a single goal in the return leg, scheduled for Sunday in Gávea.
* The other categories do not yet have games scheduled for this week *
** Follow daily coverage of Flamengo's youth football on Flamengo's official website and social media channels **