Despite playing away from home, the Garotos do Ninho U-17 team, led by coach Phelipe Leal, put on a strong performance and dominated São Paulo in the first leg of the Brazilian Championship semifinal. The 2-2 draw (Lázaro and Caio) cannot be considered good, as the São Paulo team scored literally in the last play of the game, in stoppage time. However, the strong performance of the red-and-black team serves as encouragement for the second and decisive match, scheduled for next Tuesday (9) at 16:30 pm, at Raulino de Oliveira Stadium, in Volta Redonda. Another draw will take the decision of the spot in the Brasileirão final to a penalty shootout. The winner will face Grêmio or Corinthians in the final chapter of the fight for the national trophy.

Flamengo started the game better. After a good pass from Maikon, Caio sent in a low cross, but goalkeeper Young made the save. Until the 20th minute, the "Garotos do Ninho" dominated the game, but couldn't translate their superiority into scoring chances. Cornered, São Paulo tried to organize defensively. However, in an isolated play, the home team opened the scoring in the 25th minute, through Marquinhos. 

The Mais Querido continued to attack. In the 32nd minute, Caio fired a powerful shot from the edge of the box, over the São Paulo goal. In the 44th minute, Maikon took a shot from outside the box, also over Young's goal. The deserved equalizer came in the final play of the first half, when Caio crossed into the box, Carlos Daniel beat the defense in the air, and Lázaro, always well-positioned, was lethal, scoring his 20th goal of the 2019 season.

The red-and-black pressure continued in the second half. In the 11th minute, Daniel Cabral passed to Lázaro, who fired a first-time shot that Young saved well. In the 13th minute, Pedro Arthur crossed the ball, but the goalkeeper saved again. The Boys from the Nest were dominating the field and looking for the win, even playing away from home. In the 32nd minute, Maikon took a free kick that skimmed the crossbar. A minute later, Carlos Daniel drove the ball forward at speed and struck hard. The opposing goalkeeper rebounded, but the defense cleared the danger before Lázaro could reach it. From the corner kick, Otavio wasted a great chance, shooting wide.

São Paulo deserved the victory. In the 40th minute, Caio made a great individual play and unleashed a bomb, which drew a great save from Young, by far São Paulo's standout player of the match, who palmed another one out for a corner. Cornered in their own half, São Paulo simply defended and prayed for the game to end. But it wasn't to be. In the 43rd minute, Caio shot from outside the box, and this time Young couldn't reach the ball. Finally, justice was served on the scoreboard. However, in the final play of the game, João Adriano equalized and sealed the final score. 

Flamengo: Bruno, Marcos Felipe, Gabriel Noga (Diego), Otavio, Caio; Maikon, Daniel Cabral, Lázaro; Pedro Arthur (Will), Carlos Daniel and Ryan Luka. Coach: Phelipe Leal.