In a classic match valid for the final triangular of the Guilherme Embry Tournament, Flamengo's U-16 team hosted Botafogo on Saturday morning (28) in Gávea. The hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory (Rhyan and Arthur) keeps the "Garotos do Ninho" alive in the final stage of the competition. Having won each round of the qualifying phase, Botafogo and Fluminense began the final triangular with a bonus point. With the victory, "Mais Querido" earned its first three points, but has a game in hand over the black and white team. Next Wednesday (01/11) at 9 am, Flamengo visits Fluminense in Xerém. If they win, Flamengo will be in a good position for the two return games, which could give the Rubro-Negro its second title in the history of the competition, which was created in 2011.

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The teams seemed to still be studying each other on the field when, in the 7th minute, Botafogo opened the scoring. João reached the byline and crossed to Mineiro, who beat the defense with a sliding tackle and tapped the ball into João Fernando's goal. In the 17th minute, Yuri de Oliveira delivered a good pass that found Arthur, well-positioned at the edge of the box, but the defense was quicker and blocked the shot. From a corner kick, the Boys from the Nest tied the game. Arthur battled with the defense and shot, but Andrew saved it on reflex. On the rebound, Rhyan believed until the end, showed great determination, and with a sliding tackle, beat the defender and tapped the ball into the back of the net. 

Botafogo turned the game around in the 37th minute. Yuri de Oliveira took a free kick from the penalty spot, the Botafogo defense tried to flag the offside trap, and Arthur controlled the ball unmarked, from a legal position, to tap it into Andrew's corner and score the second goal of the match for Botafogo. 

Flamengo threatened Botafogo again just four minutes into the second half. Michel Yan unleashed a powerful long-range shot, surprising goalkeeper Andrew, who palmed it away for a corner. Flamengo reached the goal in the eighth minute. Ryan crossed the ball, but João Fernando made a good save. In the next play, Claudinho played the ball in, and Mineiro headed it in, drawing another fine save from João Fernando, who saved the Mais Querido once again. 

At 37, Ryan took a free kick into the corner, and once again the wall João Fernando saved the Rubro-Negro by making a beautiful bridge, palming it away for a corner and guaranteeing the first victory for the Rubro-Negro in the final triangle of the Guilherme Embry Tournament.

"I work daily with my coaches Thiago Eller and Breno Borges on accelerating and attacking the ball on free kicks close to the box. It's always a very difficult situation for the goalkeeper because the wall is in front of us and we can't see the ball. When he took the free kick, I was fortunate enough to jump well and get to the ball, contributing to the team's victory. We gave our all on the field and secured a crucial victory in this final triangle. Our goal is the title, and we'll go after it until the last minute of the last match," said goalkeeper João Fernando. 

Flamengo will play again in the competition next Wednesday, at 9 am, when they visit Fluminense, in Xerém. 

Coach: Ramon Lima.