Flamengo Adidas Cup 2023: First Phase comes to an end and Semifinal matches are defined
Leader of Group 1, Mengão will face Atlético Nacional for a spot in the final. The other semifinal will be played between São Paulo and Colo-Colo.
By Flamengo Communication - in
The First Phase of the Flamengo Adidas Cup 2023 has concluded. On Friday morning (15), at the George Helal Training Center, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), four matches defined the Semifinal clashes of the competition. First place in Group 1, Flamengo U-16 will face Atlético Nacional, runner-up in the other group. The other semi-final duel will be between São Paulo, first in Group 2, and Colo-Colo, second place in Group A.
Mengão took sole control of their group by defeating Midtjylland this Friday. At Field 6 of Ninho do Urubu, Flamengo secured a 2-0 victory with two second-half goals. Ten minutes in, Lucas Vieira crossed from the right and Joshua headed it into the back of the net. Flamengo took control of the match after scoring the first goal and, in the 22nd minute, secured the victory. Alan Santos capitalized on a loose ball in the box to seal the victory.
In the other 9 a.m. match, Colo-Colo defeated Orlando City 3-2. The Chileans took the lead after just five minutes. Number 10 Villa made a beautiful individual play and fired a lofted shot over the bar to score a stunning goal. The United States responded in kind with another stunning goal. In the 19th minute, Guske initiated a beautiful exchange of passes and finished in the six-yard box to level the score. In the 26th minute, Morales, from almost no angle, scored another, putting the South Americans back in front. In the 13th minute of the second half, Martinez received a good through ball, dribbled past his marker, and extended Colo-Colo's lead. Orlando City pulled one back with Kristel's free kick in the 24th minute, but lacked the strength to equalize, and the score ended 3-2.
At 10:45 a.m., Arsenal and Santos Laguna played a high-scoring match at Field 6 of Ninho do Urubu. The Mexicans scored in the fourth minute through Delgado and extended their lead with Reyes five minutes later. Marciniak pulled one back for the English side in the 21st minute, and in the ninth minute, Obi leveled the score. The Gunners' comeback was halted by Tapia in the 25th minute and Carillo in the 28th, giving Santos Laguna a two-goal lead. In the final moments, in the 30th minute, Obi converted a penalty for the Europeans, but there was no time to equalize, and the score ended 4-3 for the Mexicans.
In the other match at 10:45 am, at Field 3 of the George Helal Training Center, Flamengo U-15 was defeated by Atlético Nacional and ended its participation in the Flamengo Adidas Cup 2023. The only goal of the match was scored by Jesus Reales, in the 19th minute of the first half.
The competition's semifinals will be played this Saturday (16) at CT George Helal. Flamengo U-16 and Atlético Nacional will face each other at 9 am and São Paulo and Colo-Colo will face each other at 10:45 am.
The Flamengo Adidas Cup 2023 is a U-16 competition, and the competition rules provide for two 35-minute halves. Five rounds were played in the First Phase, with the two Semifinals taking place this Saturday, and the final on Sunday (17). Fla TV will broadcast all the tournament matches live.