Fla draws in the first match of the Guilherme Embry Cup final

Game against Fluminense ends 3 x 3. Return match will be Saturday (12.11), in Xerém

By Media Relations - in 09/11/2011 às 15:31

Flamengo's youth team drew 3-3 with Fluminense this Wednesday (November 09.11) in Gávea, in the first leg of the Guilherme Embry Tournament final. Lucão and Douglas scored for the red-and-black team, which also benefited from an own goal. The team returns to the field next Saturday (November 12.11) at 10 am in Xerém to decide the title. In the event of another draw, the decision will be made on penalties. Coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo made a point of attending and supporting Flamengo's strong performance.

The game started with a lot of action, with both teams attacking. And, thanks to a defensive blunder, Fluminense opened the scoring. The goal galvanized the Tricolor, who soon extended their lead. However, the two goals didn't force Flamengo to retreat. On the contrary, the Red-Blacks began to take numerous shots, but none found the target.

Near the end of the first half, in the 38th minute, Lucão was brought down in the Fluminense box and the referee awarded a penalty. Lucão himself took the penalty and converted: 2-1.

The second half arrived, and Flamengo remained confident. The red-and-black boys' unwavering personality quickly paid off. Three minutes in, a cross into the Fluminense box saw the ball slip from goalkeeper Paulo Victor's hands and end up in the net: 2-2. The Laranjeiras team's number 1 was even sent off after a blatant complaint.

The score remained tied until the 30th minute, when Flamengo's number 9, Douglas, in a superb individual play, dribbled past both defenders and the Fluminense goalkeeper to score a stunning goal. Everything seemed poised for an advantage in the final, but with just a few minutes remaining, Fluminense scored again and leveled the score again.

At the end of the match, the red-black coach Kleber dos Santos was already outlining the strategy for next Saturday's game.

"The goal is to keep the same team for the game in Xerém. We'll put into practice the lessons we learned from today's game. We had a lot of defensive errors and we have to improve our finishing," he said.