In the semifinal of the São Paulo Junior Football Cup, Flamengo ended up losing to Cruzeiro 2-1 on Monday night (22), at Arena Barueri. Weliton scored the red-black goal. With the result, the Garotos do Ninho end their participation in the Copinha.

The game
The match began with both teams closely studying each other. Flamengo pushed up the defense and pressured Cruzeiro's attacking play. When in possession, the "Garotos do Ninho" exchanged passes in midfield to create space in the Minas Gerais defense.

With a quick attack, the red-and-black team created a threat in the 25th minute. Wallace Yan raced down the left and passed to Victor Silva inside the box. He battled with the defender and fell, but Wallace Yan got the ball and fired it wide from an angle. The ball went wide.

In the 33rd minute, Felipe Brian arrived from the right and fired a cross. Weliton dove for the ball, but the goalkeeper managed to clear it first, preventing the red-and-black goal. In stoppage time, Wallace Yan took a corner, and Weliton rose unmarked at the near post and headed dangerously wide. Despite the goalless score, the first half was lively in Barueri.

Early in the second half, Cruzeiro opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a header from Bruno Alves, making it 1-0. Flamengo immediately tried to respond. Wallace Yan crossed to the far post, but Victor Silva was free, but the ball went between the striker's legs.

A few minutes later, Mengão equalized! Victor Silva made a beautiful run down the left, reached the byline, and crossed into the middle. Top scorer Weliton, showing opportunism, struck first time to level the score at 1-1.

In a dispute in the box, Iago committed a penalty on a Cruzeiro player, which the referee checked using VAR. Gui Meira stepped up to take the penalty and scored the second goal for Cruzeiro: 2-1.

At a disadvantage, the Ninho Boys pressed forward and began to dominate the attacking field. Despite their best efforts, the red-and-black team couldn't find the equalizer and was eliminated from the Copinha.

Escalation
Lucas Furtado; Felipe Brian (Lucyan), Iago, João Victor Cunha and Jean Carlos (Germano); João Victor Alves (Diegão), Caio Garcia and Wallace Yan; Felipe Teresa (Felipe Lima), Victor Silva (Rodriguinho) and Weliton.
Coach: Raphael Bahia.

Technical sheet
Flamengo 1x2 Cruzeiro – Semifinal of the São Paulo Junior Football Cup
Location: Arena Barueri-SP
Date and time: 22/01/2024 at 19:30 pm
Arbitration: Guilherme Francisco Maciel, Tatiane Sacilotti dos Santos and Leandra Aires Cossette
Yellow cards: Iago (FLA), Otávio (CRU) and Fernando (CRU)
Goals: Bruno Alves (4'2nd half), Weliton (12'2nd half) and Gui Meira (22'2nd half).