Flamengo's U-18 team, led by coach Mario Jorge, defeated Macaé 2-1 (Ronald and Igor Lemos) this Saturday morning at CEFAN, reaching 11 points and confirming their qualification for the quarterfinals of the U-20 Rio Cup. The Mais Querido's victory once again proves that the work of Flamengo's Youth Football Department is excellent and very well planned, since even playing the entire competition with a much younger squad than their opponents, the Garotos do Ninho achieved their objective of qualifying for the quarterfinals in both rounds of the State Championship. Mais Querido's opponent in the single elimination game next Wednesday (11) will only be known late in the afternoon, after all the games of the round are completed.

In the 23rd minute, shortly after the timeout, Flamengo opened the scoring. Ronald pressed the ball out, sprinted past the entire Macaé defense, and skillfully slotted it past goalkeeper Gaúcho to score his fourth goal of the Campeonato Carioca, becoming the Red-Black team's top scorer in the competition. Macaé equalized in the 42nd minute, with Edson, following a cross into the Mais Querido box.

Even with qualification already secured, the Ninho Boys returned for the second half looking to win the game. In the 17th minute, Igor Lemos took a shot from the edge of the box, but goalkeeper Gaúcho made a good save. In the 30th minute, Maycon unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box, over the Macaé goal. In the 32nd minute, João Marcelo rolled the ball and Igor Lemos struck powerfully, once again posing a threat to Macaé's goal. 

The pressure was intense, and the second goal for the red-and-black team came in the 43rd minute of the second half. Following a corner kick, Igor Lemos received the ball inside the box, shook off his marker, and skillfully fired a shot into the left corner of the goal, putting Mengão ahead. 

Flamengo: Bruno, Braian (Jhonata), Diego Ritter, Kaiky, Italo; Lucas André (Danilo), Maycon, André (João Marcelo); Sidney (Vitor Muller), Ronald (Igor Lemos) and Lucas Bauru (Samuel). Coach: Mario Jorge.