In the first leg of the Copa Rio Sub-15 final, Flamengo drew 1-1 with Fluminense on Saturday morning (24), at CT Vale das Laranjeiras, in Xerém. The goal for Mais Querido was scored by Felipe. Now, the Garotos do Ninho will decide the tournament title playing at home, in Gávea. If the match ends in another draw, the dispute will be decided on penalties.

The game
The Fla-Flu derby started evenly, with both teams cautiously studying each other. Fluminense had slightly more possession and exchanged passes in Flamengo's midfield. At 10 minutes, Flamengo had their first good chance. Luan Andrey received the ball at the edge of the area, turned, and shot towards goal. The shot was weak, and the goalkeeper made the save.

In the final stretch of the first half, Fluminense opened the scoring with Brasília: 1-0. But Flamengo reacted quickly and tied the game in the 32nd minute! Bill crossed low into the six-yard box and Felipe finished into the empty net: 1-1.

In the second half, the match remained very physical, with intense battling for possession in midfield. The Flamengo youth team began to occupy more of the Tricolor's midfield and exchanged passes in search of spaces to score.

At 24 minutes, Pedrinho attempted a shot inside the area, and the ball hit the hand of the Fluminense defender. The referee awarded a penalty. Bill took the penalty, but Davi made the save, preventing a Flamengo goal. For the remainder of the match, the Flamengo youth team tried to apply pressure in search of the winning goal, but the derby ended in a 1-1 draw.

Next appointment
The Flamengo youth team returns to the field next Sunday (1) to face Fluminense again, at 9 am, in Gávea, for the second game of the finals.

Flamengo lineup
Caio Barone; Joaquim, Victor, Lucas and Lucyan (Hugo); Edmilson, Felipe (Germano) and Pedrinho (Luís Guilherme); Bill, Luan Andrey (Pedro Nunes) and Lorran (David).
Coach: Leonardo Cherede.

Fluminense lineup
Davi; Julio Cesar, Matheus Costa, Mateus Luiz and Esquerdinha; Fabio, Brasília and Victor Kauan; Matheus Pedro (Victor Lima), Kauã Elias (Foguete) and Gustavo (Dracena).
Coach: Lindolfo Melo.

Technical sheet
Fluminense 1-1 Flamengo – Game 1 of the Rio Cup U-15 Final
Location: CT Vale das Laranjeiras, Xerém-RJ
Date: 24 / 07 / 2021
Referee: Augusto Cesar Rodrigues
Assistants: Idries Bulkool Bernstein and Rafael de Oliveira Almeida
Yellow cards: Matheus Costa (FLU), Esquerdinha (FLU) and Lucyan (FLA)
Goals: Flu: Brasília (29'1st half), Fla: Felipe (32'1st half).