In a match played at CEFAN on a hot Saturday morning (24), the U-18 team led by coach Mario Jorge, who represents Flamengo in the U-20 State Championship, drew 2-2 (Milani and Maycon) with América. The result keeps the Garotos do Ninho in the fight for the lead in Group A of the Taça Rio, with seven points won in the three rounds played. Botafogo leads the group with nine points. Next Wednesday, Mais Querido visits Botafogo, at CEFAT, with live broadcast and images from FLATV. The ball rolls at 10 am. This Sunday (25) at 15 pm, the main group receives Cruzeiro, at Gávea, for the eighth round of the Brazilian U-20 Championship.

The Boys of the Nest quickly opened the scoring. In their first attack, three minutes in, Maycon took a corner kick that Milani headed, and he headed it in with style to score his first goal with the Sacred Mantle. América equalized in the 15th minute with a cross-shot from Agu. They turned the game around in the 20th minute with Macario. In the 38th minute, Maycon took a free kick from mid-range, but goalkeeper Jeferson made the save.

The Mais Querido started the second half pressing. In the seventh minute, André fired a low shot that clipped Jeferson's right post. The equalizer came in the tenth minute, with a penalty awarded to Ronald and accurately converted by Maycon. 

The Boys of the Nest went in search of a comeback. In the 13th minute, Sidney's cross-shot sailed over América's crossbar. Flamengo pressed on. In the 30th minute, João Marcelo fired a low shot into the corner, but Jeferson stretched and made the save in two attempts. In the 40th minute, Igor França crossed into the box, but the ball flew inches from João Marcelo's boot, who was well-positioned in the box to score. In América's best chance of the second half, Pedro Caracoci came out on time and made a great save from a one-on-one shot by Leozinho in the 43rd minute. It was the last dangerous play of the match.

Flamengo: Pedro Caracoci, Marcos Felipe, Milani, Darlan, Sidney (Lucas); Maycon (Igor França), Danilo (Vitor Muller), Igor Lemos; André, Ronald (João Marcelo) and Chrysman (Carlos Daniel). Coach: Mario Jorge.