In the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Brazilian Under-20 Championship, Flamengo beat Fluminense 3-1 on Monday afternoon (28), in Gávea. The Rubro-Negro's goals were scored by Thiaguinho, Rodrigo Muniz and Matheuzinho. With the result, Mais Querido can even lose by one goal and still qualify for the semifinals of the competition.

The game
With an experienced team on the field, Flamengo began the match looking to prioritize possession. When they did attack, the red-and-black team was stopped by fouls, which left the game quite tense. In the 19th minute, Lucas André received a free kick in the middle of the field and took a shot, but the Tricolor goalkeeper made the save.

In the 33rd minute, Fluminense opened the scoring with a John Kennedy goal, making it 1-0. Flamengo tried to react quickly and nearly tied the game. After a back-and-forth in the box, Lázaro received the ball unmarked and unleashed a powerful shot. Goalkeeper João Pedro palmed it away, and the ball hit the post. In the 43rd minute, Mengão leveled the score. Ramon received the ball unmarked on the left and crossed into the box for Thiaguinho to head home, making it 1-1.

The "Garotos do Ninho" (The Nest Boys) returned for the second half trying to pressure Fluminense in their own half. And it worked! Just four minutes in, Mengão turned the game around with Rodrigo Muniz. In a great play down the right flank, Matheuzinho got to the baseline and crossed for the center forward, who was free, to score the second goal for the red-and-blacks: 2-1.

With the advantage, the red-and-black team had more freedom to work on their plays and control the pace of the game. In the 40th minute, Lázaro received a red card after a high challenge with the Tricolor player, leaving the Red-and-Black team with ten men in the final minutes. In the 48th minute, Gabriel Barros was brought down in the box, and the referee awarded a penalty. Matheuzinho stepped up to take the penalty and extended the Red-and-Black lead to 3-1.

And now?
Mais Querido returns to the field next Monday (04) to face Fluminense again, at 15 pm, in Laranjeiras, for the second leg of the quarterfinals of the Brazilian Under-20 Championship.

Flamengo lineup
João Fernando; Matheus França, Gabriel Noga, Milani and Ramon (Italo); Lucas André, Richard and Lázaro; Max (Werton), Thiaguinho (Gabriel Barros) and Rodrigo Muniz (Gabriel Aires).
Coach: Mauricio Souza.