In the Fla x Flu match played this Sunday afternoon (21), in Gávea, Flamengo's Under-17 team fought until the end, but played most of the second half with one player less and ended up being defeated by Fluminense 2-1 (Ítalo). The result takes away the chance of a state three-peat for the Garotos do Ninho, who turn the page and change their focus to the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. Next Thursday, at 3 pm, Mais Querido hosts América MG, in Gávea, in search of qualification for the quarter-finals of the important national competition. In the first leg, a 1-1 draw in Belo Horizonte.

The match started tensely, with tough plays and few scoring chances at Gávea. The first opportunity was for Flamengo, and it came only in the 15th minute. Gomes made a good pass behind the defense to Lázaro, who outpaced his marker and shot first-time, forcing a comfortable save from Marcelo. In the following minute, Lázaro crossed and Sidney appeared unmarked in the area, but couldn't direct his header towards the goal. Fluminense threatened in the 24th minute with a header from Marcos Paulo that went wide.

But it was Flamengo who opened the scoring. In the 32nd minute, Ítalo took a free kick from the side, the defense tried to clear it, and the ball ended up in the back of the Fluminense net, restoring the lead to Flamengo. Even with the lead, the Flamengo youth team didn't stop looking for a goal. In the 36th minute, Yuri de Oliveira unleashed a powerful shot from midfield, startling Marcelo. In the last play of the first half, after a scramble in the Flamengo penalty area, André equalized for Fluminense.

Flamengo went in search of the goal that would qualify them for the final in the second half. At six minutes, Sidney unleashed a powerful shot towards the top corner, but Marcelo flew and made the save, deflecting it for a corner. At nine minutes, Lucas Freitas was forced to stop a Fluminense counter-attack and received his second yellow card. 

Flamengo didn't give up. At 25 minutes, Rhyan passed to Reinier, who shot first-time, wide to the left of Marcelo's goal. At 30 minutes, Yuri de Oliveira crossed and Rhyan wasted a good opportunity, heading over the opponent's goal. Flamengo pressed, but in an isolated play, Fluminense scored their second goal through João Pedro, sealing the final score.

Flamengo: Pedro Victor, Braian (Luis Gustavo), Gabriel Noga, Lucas Freitas, Ítalo; Lucas Gabriel (João Gabriel), Gomes, Reinier; Sidney (Otávio), Yuri de Oliveira and Lázaro (Rhyan). Coach: Phelipe Leal.