A winning start and three more points for Flamengo in the Brazilian Under-17 Championship. Mengão beat Santos 4-2 this Wednesday (22), and achieved their third victory in the competition. João Vitor Couto and Luiz Guilherme, twice each, scored the goals for Flamengo in the match played at the Luso Brasileiro Stadium, located on Ilha do Governador. 

The game started lively, with a dangerous free kick for Flamengo before the first minute. João Vitor Couto shot to the right of the goalkeeper. Santos responded immediately with a corner kick, which the defense cleared. Flamengo was dominating possession around the opponent's area and scored the first goal in the 12th minute. Bernardo shot powerfully from the edge of the area on the right, the goalkeeper parried, and Luiz Guilherme showed opportunism to score. (Continued after the photo).

After failing to capitalize on a good attack, Flamengo extended their lead shortly after. Isaac went down the right flank, beat two defenders and shot past the goalkeeper; the ball fell to Rafael Tenório who passed it to João Vitor Couto for a precise shot in the 22nd minute.

Flamengo largely controlled the game, with virtually no scares, and the third goal took 13 minutes to arrive: Luiz Guilherme advanced alone and finished firmly, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

Right at the start of the second half, Flamengo attacked down the right flank. Jordan Michael made a good play, shot, and the ball went high. In another good attack down the right, Bernardo exchanged passes with Pedrinho, crossed to the far post, but the referee called a handball on Jordan Michael in the 7th minute. In the next play, Santos reduced the deficit with a penalty converted by João Borges in the 9th minute.

The São Paulo team had more attacking presence after the goal, and Gabriel Werneck made a save from a long-range shot in the 10th minute. However, the response didn't take long, and Flamengo scored their fourth goal in the 12th minute when Jordan Michael took a corner and João Vitor Couto headed it in for his second goal of the match. 

The fifth goal almost came in quick succession. First with a powerful shot from Jordan Michael that hit the crossbar, and then with a header from Daniel Silva, in the 20th and 22nd minutes. But it was Santos who pulled one back next, in the 23rd minute. Gabriel Werneck made a good save from a shot outside the area in the 35th minute, without giving a rebound to the Santos player who was there to try and score.

After the second goal, the opponent tried to go on the attack while Flamengo managed their lead and looked to extend it. Before the final whistle, Ricardo Pietro broke down the right wing and Pedrinho shot wide.

Flamengo's youth team will face Fortaleza away from home in round 10 of the Brazilian U-17 Championship. The match is scheduled for August 5th at 15 PM at the Ribamar Bezerra Training Center in Maracanaú, Ceará.