Flamengo draws with Fluminense in the first leg of the U-17 Brazil Cup final
The second game will be on Tuesday and another draw will lead to a penalty shootout.
By Flamengo Communication - in
The first leg of the U-17 Brazil Cup final was intense. As expected of a final, especially a classic, Flamengo and Fluminense fought for every ball on the heavy Maracanã pitch, under heavy rain that fell for 90 minutes. The final score was a 1-1 draw, and everything was set for the second leg, next Tuesday, also at the Maracanã, at 21:30 p.m.
Flamengo took the lead in the first half, thanks to promising prospect Reinier. Martinelli equalized for the Tricolor in the second half. And the team with the most chances was the "Mais Querido" (Flu) goalkeeper. The Flu goalkeeper worked much harder than Pedro Victor, Flamengo's number one. Especially in the second half, when Rhyan had the ball to score the second, but was stopped by a sensational save from Marcelo.
The rain didn't hamper the teams' performance in any way. With quick attacks, dribbling, and a strong will, the Ninho Boys came out on top early on. In the 05th minute, Lázaro burst into the box from the right and crossed, but the ball sailed across the box with no one to touch it. Fluminense counterattacked, but without any major danger. Lázaro, again, put together a great individual play, entered the box, and shot, but the ball went up, scaring the Fluminense goalkeeper in the 22nd minute.
Flamengo was all for it. In the 34th minute, Rhyan laid the ball off, and Reinier fired a powerful shot. The ball hit the defense and went out. But five minutes later, there was no way out. In a similar play, Rhyan fought for the ball, and it fell to Reinier, who shot, counting on the deflection off the defense to fool Marcelo and slot it in. Asism ended the first half with Flamengo ahead.
In the seventh minute of the second half, Flamengo almost extended their lead. Rhyan received the ball from Lázaro and shot hard, but the ball went wide. Three minutes later, Flu equalized with Martinelli.
The Ninho Boys ignored the goal and pressed Fluminense. Flamengo was the only one to win. In their best chance, in the 40th minute, Marcelo saved a shot from Rhyan one-on-one. In the 47th minute, Ítalo crossed from the left, and the ball curved, fooling everyone, but hit the crossbar. And that was it. The final will be on Tuesday.