Good individual performances combined with a great collective performance. This was the secret to the Under-17 team's great 2-1 victory over Botafogo (Yuri and Wendel) in the first game of the final of the Carioca Championship in the category, played this Sunday morning (19), at Engenhão. The result gives the Garotos do Ninho the advantage of playing for a draw in the return match, scheduled for next Sunday (26) at 10 am, at Gávea, to become two-time state champions. 

The Mais Querido's first chance to score came just five minutes into the game. After a goal kick from Victor Hugo, Vitor Gabriel headed the ball, nearly leaving Yuri with a clear shot. Following the play, the midfielder crossed to Vitor Gabriel, who fired a powerful first-time shot over André's goal. In the 7th minute, Botafogo threatened with a header from Marcelo. The Rubro-Negro were the better team on the field and opened the scoring in the 9th minute. After another goal kick from Victor Hugo, the ball fell to Yuri, who this time managed to shake off his marker and struck powerfully to score the first goal for the Ninho Boys in the final.

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In the 14th minute, Wendel burst into the box and unleashed a powerful shot that André made a good save. In the 15th minute, Botafogo nearly equalized through Marcelo, but Victor Hugo stepped up and performed a miracle, saving Flamengo and maintaining their lead. In the 35th minute, Wendel stole the ball in the defensive midfield and passed it to Vitor Gabriel. He skillfully spun around the defender and shot from distance, which André easily saved. In the 36th minute, Barbosa hit a powerful cross that Victor Hugo made another great save. 

The second half began as evenly matched and competitive as the first. In the fifth minute, Matheus Alves made a poor clearance, and Botafogo nearly equalized with a powerful shot from Rhuan that hit the outside of the net. Soon after, Botafogo returned to the attack and nearly extended their lead with shots from Marx Lenin and Yuri, both wide, putting the black and white goal at risk. In the 10th minute, Marx Lenin delivered a superb pass to Wendel, who beat the defense with speed and struck a powerful and precise shot to score the second for the Boys from the Nest.

In the 18th minute, Rhuan struck a powerful shot, forcing another great save from Victor Hugo, who was very solid and confident in his play. In the 23rd minute, Vitor Gabriel made a beautiful individual play and passed to Marx Lenin. He tried to dribble past the goalkeeper, who smothered the ball. On the rebound, Wendel struck for another save by the goalkeeper. In the 25th minute, Botafogo took a corner kick, and Victor Hugo was brought down as he rose to make the save. The referee allowed play to continue, and Basseto headed the ball into an empty net to reduce the deficit. The final minutes of the match were very tight and evenly matched, with few scoring chances for either team. In the end, the 2-1 scoreline was fair for the better team on the field. Next Sunday at 10:17 am, Flamengo will play for a draw at Gávea to win its second U-XNUMX Rio de Janeiro championship.

"Professor Marcinho tells us that there will always be another game, and that we should never give up. We were knocked out of the Copa do Brasil on Thursday, but we stayed focused and concentrated and managed to play a great game today against Botafogo. Thank God I had a good individual performance, but the most important thing was the collective performance. We go into the second leg with the advantage of a draw, but knowing that we will need to play to win if we want to be Rio de Janeiro champions," said midfielder Yuri.

Flamengo: Victor Hugo, Braian, Natan, Patrick (Natan), Ramon, Gomes, Matheus Alves, Marx Lenin (Henrique), Wendel, Yuri and Vitor Gabriel (Vitor Ricardo). Coach: Marcio Torres.