Midfielder Fabiano protects the ball in the clash with RB Bragantino, away from home

Photos: Fernando Roberto/Red Bull Bragantino

In a closely contested match, Flamengo ended up conceding two goals in the second half, reacted with captain Iago, who scored from the penalty spot, and was defeated 2-1 by Red Bull Bragantino, away from home. The match, valid for the 16th round of the Brazilian Under-20 Championship, was played this Wednesday (2), at the Nabi Abi Chedid Stadium, in Bragança Paulista.

Flamengo and RB Bragantino tried to apply high pressure, but until the 16th minute, the goalkeepers hadn't made a single save. Then, in the 18th minute, goalkeeper Lucas Furtado launched a pass down the left, Gusttavo exchanged passes with Guilherme, and crossed. The defense cleared the ball to the right, where Wanderson was poised to cross again into the box. Felipe Teresa pounced on the loose ball and fired it just wide of the right post.

In the 23rd minute, Flamengo threatened again. Captain Iago headed in a corner kick from Gusttavo, and the defender saved it on the line. Leonardo Ramos's team stepped up their game and, with quick passing, created two more chances. In the 29th minute, Bragantino came out strong, but number 8 Lima ended up missing. Yuri Leles then took a left-footed shot, and Lucas Furtado palmed it away for a corner.

In another well-worked play, in the 34th minute, Flamengo had another chance to score. Gusttavo passed the ball to the middle, Fabiano found Felipe Teresa in the box, but his shot was off target. Soon after, Lucas Furtado made a great save to prevent a goal from Luiz Gustavo, Bragantino's number 9, in the 38th minute.

The red-and-black goal was narrowly missed in the 45th minute: Shola prevented the ball from going out of bounds on the left, and beautifully passed it to Gusttavo, who found Pedro Leão, who couldn't adjust his body to head the ball into an empty net. The first half ended immediately.

As soon as the second half began, Yuri Leles opened the scoring for RB Bragantino in the 2nd minute. Flamengo created a serious threat in the 12th minute, when Pedro Leão came close to scoring with a header, but the defense cleared it. In the following attack, Cauê scored RB Bragantino's second in the 14th.

Flamengo pulled one back in the 24th minute when Gusttavo was awarded a penalty after a superb pass from Guilherme. Defender Iago fired the ball accurately into the goalkeeper's right corner. RB Bragantino nearly scored a stunning goal with Luis Gustavo, who lobbed the ball from the edge of the box. Lucas Furtado returned in time and made a great save.

The red-and-black number 1 returned to action in the 36th minute, palming a shot out for a corner. RB Bragantino attacked heavily, especially down the left. Flamengo, on the other hand, had a good opportunity with Felipe Teresa, who dribbled past the goalkeeper. The São Paulo team's number 1 recovered, and the ball went out of bounds. Shola also finished with a dangerous shot in the 48th minute, shortly before the end of the match.