Exactly one week after celebrating the Otávio Pinto Guimarães Tournament (U-20) title on the São Januário pitch, Flamengo's youth team once again demonstrated its comfort level playing at the home of one of its main Rio rivals. On this warm Friday morning (November 11.11), it was the Mais Querido's U-17 team's turn to visit the Cruzmaltino, and the result was nothing new. In the first leg of the Rio Cup final of the State Championship, the Rubro-Negro defeated Vasco 4-0 (Bill, Michael, Vinícius Junior, and Yuri), and came very close to celebrating another Rio title. In the return leg, which will be held next Wednesday, November 16.11, at 10:2016 am in Gávea, Flamengo can lose by up to three goals and still win the Rio Cup and be crowned state champions directly, without needing to play the final, as they were also champions of the Guanabara Cup. Furthermore, if Rubro-Negro does not lose the next game, it will finish the 17 season undefeated in the Under-XNUMX category.

Vastly superior throughout the 90 minutes, the Mais Querido effortlessly crushed their opponents from the first second and soon opened the scoring. In the seventh minute, Vinícius Junior made a beautiful play down the left wing and crossed to Bill, who turned inside the box and slotted the ball into the goalkeeper's left corner. The move gave Flamengo even more confidence, and they became even more superior on the field and extended their lead in the 20th minute with a perfectly placed free kick from Michael, which went into the top corner. 

The intense heat, which punished the entire crowd at São Januário, didn't slow Flamengo's pace or attacking prowess in the second half. Just three minutes in, midfielder Vinícius Junior received the ball inside the box and fired a left-footed shot to make it three. 

"It was an excellent performance by the entire group. We managed to open up a big lead, but we're aware that we need to work hard and maintain the same focus in the next few days of training, as nothing is decided and we still have the second game ahead of us," said Vinícius Junior.

With the victory already secured, Mengão began to control the result, but still had time to score a fourth. In the 40th minute, Vinícius Junior led a counterattack, Jardeu passed the ball to Yuri, who chipped it over the goalkeeper for a beautiful goal and sealed the victory.

"We know that this score, in a final, and even more so at our opponent's home ground, is unusual. But we also know the quality of our team. It's a very good group, above average, and they understand and perfectly follow all our recommendations. This makes our job much easier, and makes all of us on the coaching staff very happy. There's no denying that we've taken a huge step forward, but we still have the second game ahead, against a great team, one we respect greatly. We'll stay focused and serious, knowing that we have another 90 minutes ahead," concluded coach Marcinho.