Even playing away from home, Flamengo's U-15 team defeated Botafogo 2-1 (João Pedro and Jean Sales) on Saturday afternoon (13), at CEFAT Várzea das Moças, in Niteroi, and further extended their lead in the semi-final of the State Championship in the category. Now, the Garotos do Ninho can be defeated by a one-goal difference in the return match, scheduled for next Sunday (21), at 10 am, in Gávea, and will be guaranteed once again in the grand final of the competition, against the winner of Botafogo and Vasco.

The players on both teams suffered greatly throughout the first half due to the intense heat. Proof of this was that each coach was forced to make a change before halftime due to the intense physical strain. Ryan Matheus replaced Pedrinho on the red-and-black side, and Juninho replaced Jonas on the Botafogo side. Very few scoring chances were created in the first 40 minutes of the game. Flamengo threatened only once, with a low free kick by Oliveira. Goalkeeper Marcelo was well-placed and made a confident save. Botafogo threatened in stoppage time, thanks to a good individual effort by Jhonnatha. The shot was powerful, but Christian, well-positioned, made the save.

In the second half, with the sun a little milder, the game flowed a little better. Just two minutes in, Victor Hugo received the ball centrally and shot from outside the box. The ball sailed over Botafogo's goal, putting Marcelo's goal in danger. In the fifth minute, Flamengo opened the scoring. João Pedro received the ball on the left wing, faced his marker, cut inside, and fired a sharp right-footed shot into the corner of Marcelo's goal, but Marcelo was helpless. A minute later, another one almost came. João Pedro found Richard unmarked. He cleverly crossed the ball to Victor Hugo's head. The number ten touched it off Marcelo's backfoot, but the ball capriciously hit the foot of the right post and didn't go in. The defense then cleared the danger.

The Boys of the Nest were dominating the game, and the second goal was increasingly coming. In the 12th minute, Victor Hugo drove through the attacking midfield and passed to Oliveira. The shot, however, was blocked at the right time by the defense, who cleared it for a corner. The pressure was intense. In the 15th minute, Richard unleashed a bomb from the edge of the box. The ball sailed just wide of the black and white's left corner. In the 18th minute, another shot hit the post. Victor Hugo crossed to Felippe, who hit the post first time. On the rebound, with no goalkeeper, Richard shot over the bar, wasting an excellent opportunity to extend the lead.

Flamengo's dominance was overwhelming, and finally, the second goal came in the 38th minute. And what a goal! Jean Sales, who had just come on, received the ball wide on the left wing. He took on the ball, beat his marker, and unleashed a thunderous volley. The ball hit the crossbar before bulging into the net, further extending the Mais Querido's significant lead. In stoppage time, Fubá scored a beautiful goal to reduce the deficit, a result that doesn't take away the Garotos do Ninho's significant advantage for the return leg next week in Gávea. With the away win, the Garotos do Ninho could lose by a single goal and still be guaranteed a spot in the final of the Campeonato Carioca U-15.

Flamengo: Cristian, Cauan Thimoteo (Kayque), Diego, Kaiky, Richard; Jorge (Leonardo), Pedrinho (Ryan Matheus), Victor Hugo (Arthur Lessa); Oliveira (Werton), João Pedro and Felippe (Jean Sales). Coach: Mario Jorge.