The 17 Brazilian Under-2020 Championship began the same way 2019 ended: with a victory for Flamengo. The reigning national champion, in a victory that introduced top scorer Lázaro to the world, the Mais Querido began its journey in the fight for the second Brazilian championship on the afternoon of this Thursday (12). In a match played at the Elcyr Resende Stadium, in Bacaxá, the Rubro-Negro defeated Cruzeiro 2-1 (João Pedro and Matheus França), and earned its first three points in the 2020 season, as this was also the category's debut in official matches this year. In the next round, Flamengo travels to Fortaleza to face Ceará. The duel is scheduled for Tuesday (17), at 15 pm. MyCujoo will broadcast live.

The first goal-scoring chance of the game fell to the Mais Querido. In the 15th minute, João Pedro took a free kick from the sidelines aimed at Ryan Luka, but Cruzeiro goalkeeper Rodrigo leaped in at the perfect time and knocked the ball away from the Flamengo striker's head. In the 19th minute, Richard received the ball at the edge of the box and unleashed a first-time shot. Rodrigo palmed it away for a corner. Flamengo were the better team on the field and opened the scoring in the 31st minute. Top scorer in the U-16 category in 2019 with 17 goals, João Pedro beat the defense, burst into the box, and fired a cross-shot. The goalkeeper rebounded, the ball bounced off the Garoto do Ninho and into the back of the Minas Gerais team's net.

Flamengo continued to play better and create more scoring chances early in the second half. In the tenth minute, Werton took a shot from the edge of the box, but the ball flew just wide of Rodrigo's right post. In an isolated move, Cruzeiro equalized in the 22nd minute with a header from Cassio following a free kick in the box. The mature Garotos do Ninho kept their heads and soon regained the lead. In the 26th minute, Matheus França, who had come on shortly before for Werton, fired a powerful shot from outside the box to score the winner, leaving Rodrigo with no chance to save. It was the midfielder's first goal in the U-17 category.

Flamengo: Kauã, Arthur Augusto, Diego, Cleiton, Richard; Daniel Alves, Pedro Henrique (Quintino), Victor Hugo (Dudu); Werton (Matheus França), João Pedro (Jean Sales) and Ryan Luka. Coach: Phelipe Leal.