Photo: Victor Baetas/CRF

Flamengo took the lead against Juventude, with a goal from Pedro Leão in the first half, but ended up suffering an equalizer in the second and ended in a 1-1 draw, in the 11th round of the Brazilian U-20 Championship. The match was played this Wednesday (21), at the José Bastos Padilha Stadium, in Gávea. The Rubro-Negro's next game will be against Palmeiras, leader of the competition, on Monday (26), at 20 pm, at Arena Barueri.

With the 1-1 draw, Flamengo dropped from third to fourth place. The duel with the Rio Grande do Sul team was a direct confrontation, as both teams share the same 20 points, with Flamengo having the upper hand on goal difference. Palmeiras reached 24 points after a 2-2 draw with Fortaleza away from home, followed by Athletico (22) and RB Bragantino (20).

Flamengo's first shot, taken by Rayan Lucas, was stopped by the goalkeeper in the 12th minute. On the next attack, Juventude struck with a cross-shot to the left of goalkeeper Lucas Furtado. In the 14th minute, Mora made a good run down the right and sent a shot into the box. Guilherme headed the ball, but the defense cleared it.

Flamengo opened the scoring in the 20th minute, with a well-worked left-to-right move from Wanderson to Rayan Lucas, and then to Daniel Sales, who crossed perfectly for Pedro Leão. The U-20 team's top scorer headed the ball past the post, his 13th goal of the season.

The game continued without any major changes. Flamengo had more possession and was virtually unthreatening, only allowing Juventude to quickly attack. In one of the Rubro-Negro's few strong attacks after the goal, Fabiano fired a well-placed shot that sailed over the crossbar in the 41st minute.

Flamengo narrowly avoided extending their lead in the 8th minute of the second half. First, with a shot from Pedro Leão, which the goalkeeper saved, and then with a rebound from Daniel Sales, which the defender cleared off the line.

After a dangerous cross from the left in the 17th minute, Juventude equalized three minutes later with a goal from left-back Gabriel Borges. In the 22nd minute, it was Flamengo's turn to come out swinging. Daniel Sales fired a shot from the left, but goalkeeper Luiz Turatto made a great save.

The Red-Blacks went all out on the attack, often with their entire team in the defense of the Rio Grande do Sul team, who began to dominate the match. Despite fighting hard on the field, the "Garotos do Ninho" were unable to secure victory.

Flamengo: Coach: Nuno Campos.

Substitutes: Caio Barone, Felipe Vieira, Carbone, Bruno Xavier, Italo, Felipe Teresa, Lucas Vieira, Felipe Lima, David Viana, Rafael Couto, Alan Santos and Menegatti.