Already qualified for the second phase of the São Paulo Junior Cup after beating Palmeira/RN 5-1, Flamengo took to the field last Thursday night (07.01) to face União Mogi in the last round of the group stage of the competition. Rubro-Negro finished the first stage with a 100% record: three games and three wins.

With the team already guaranteed a spot in the next stage of the Copinha, coach Zé Ricardo opted to field an alternate lineup against União Mogi, attempting to rest his starters for the next stage of the championship. Of the players who participated in the rout of Palmeiras/RN, only Ronaldo and Léo Duarte will start against the Mogi team, along with João Lopes, Lincoln, Trindade, Klebinho, Arthur Bonaldo, Patrick, Henrique, Alan, and Antônio, who completed the group.

The first half began with a powerful attack from Mais Querido: Arthur Bonaldo opened the scoring after 29 seconds. Seeking a quick comeback, União Mogi quickly tied the match at 1-1, a minute after Flamengo's goal. In the 11th minute, Patrick put the Red-Blacks back in front. The midfielder fired a shot from outside the box and scored a stunning goal, making the match 2-1 to Mais Querido until the referee blew the whistle to end the first half.

Both teams started more cautiously in both attack and defense, which slowed the pace of the match. Only in stoppage time, in the 46th minute, did Thiago Ennes—who had just entered the field—score the third goal for Flamengo, sealing a 3-1 victory for the Red-Blacks over União Mogi. 

Flamengo will face Brasília - second place in group 23 - this Sunday (10.01), at 20:30 pm, at the Francisco Ribeiro Nogueira stadium, Nogueirão.