In a match played on Friday night (16.12) at the PUCRS Stadium, Flamengo faced Botafogo in the semifinals of the RS International U-20 Cup. Better throughout the game, the Rubro-Negro dominated possession and created many more goal chances, but was defeated by the black and white team by 1-0, and is eliminated from the competition. 

Despite the defeat, coach Gilmar Popoca leaves Porto Alegre very satisfied with the team's notable progress, confident in the continuation of preparations for the Copa São Paulo, a competition in which Flamengo is the current champion and will defend the title in January, and with the fact that the team had its best campaign in the history of the Copa RS.

"I leave here very happy with our progress throughout the competition. This is a new team, assembled in just 15 days and arriving at this competition still needing a lot of adjustments. We managed to make them over these two weeks together here in Porto Alegre, and I'm sure that, despite today's defeat, we leave the Copa RS with a huge boost in our confidence and with the certainty of the strength of a group that has proven to be very united and talented," said coach Gilmar Popoca.

The team returns to Rio de Janeiro and will resume training at CT Ninho do Urubu next week, aiming for its Copa São Paulo debut against Central (PE) on January 4th at 21 pm, in a match to be held at Anacleto Campanela Stadium in São Caetano do Sul. São Bento and São Caetano complete the group. The top two teams will qualify for the second phase of the competition.