With titles recently won in Dubai and Italy by its U-16 team, the red-black youth football team started off on the right foot in search of the third international title of the 2019 season. The fans this time are for the Garotos do Ninho U-14 team, led by coach Leonardo Cherede, who is in Italy competing in the 28th edition of the traditional Abano Football Trophy.

The Mais Querido debuted in the competition this Thursday (16) and, right away, had to overcome a small marathon. Just two days after facing a long trip to Europe, the Rubro-Negro took to the field at the Comunale Due Carrare Stadium to play the first two matches of Group C of the difficult international competition. Right in the debut, the opponent was Ajax, from the Netherlands. In a fiercely contested duel played at a high technical and tactical level, the Garotos do Ninho knew how to impose themselves on the field, overcoming the fatigue of the trip and the tension of the debut and defeating the strong European team by a score of 2-1, with two goals from center forward Lucas Matheus.

A few hours later, after a brief rest, Flamengo returned to the field, this time to play against the Chinese team Changchun Yatai. Despite falling behind, Flamengo maintained their focus and pulled off a crucial comeback, repeating the scoreline from the first leg. Once again, Lucas Matheus and Matheus Gonçalves, with a beautiful goal from the edge of the box in the final minutes of the game, secured three more points for Flamengo and, as a bonus, an early spot in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

"I'm very pleased with our players' performance. They're 14-year-olds who are still in the developmental stage, and seeing them overcome the normal anxiety of making their debut in an international competition, their first, against a very strong European opponent, makes me very happy. I consider our team to be very balanced in both matches, with a very well-organized and solid defense and excellent offensive movement, with many goal-scoring chances created. These were two great matches for a debut day," said coach Leonardo Cherede.

Without much time to rest, the Garotos do Ninho take to the field again this Friday (16) at 11:30 am (Brasília time), to decide the first place in the group against the also already qualified Inter Milan, in the clash between the two teams with 100% success in the first two rounds.