Flamengo's U-20 team's current priority is to repeat the feat achieved by the U-17 team in December with their victory over Fluminense at Maracanã, and win the Copa do Brasil for the first time. The path to the Garotos do Ninho's main objective in this first half of the year passes through the distant city of Ariquemes, located 200 km from Porto Velho, the capital of Rondônia. It will be there, at Valerião Stadium, that the Mais Querido will face Real Desportivo Ariquemes in the second leg of the round of 4 of the national competition. In the first leg, played last week in Volta Redonda, the red-and-black team won 2-20, a score that gives them a significant advantage and some peace of mind for the decisive duel this Thursday at 30:XNUMX pm (Brasília time). The winner will face the winner of Internacional and América RN in the quarterfinals.

With a positive record of four wins and one draw in the five matches played since returning from the summer break, the U-20 team has been improving and becoming more personable on the field with each match. For the match against Real Ariquemes, Flamengo will have the important return of goalkeeper Hugo Souza, who, after serving with the Brazilian National Team in the U-20 South American Championship, will be making only his second appearance with the Sacred Mantle this season, and his debut in the Copa do Brasil.

"We know that to achieve our goal, which is the title, we need to take it one game at a time. Therefore, we believe that tomorrow's match is the most important of the year so far. The Copa do Brasil is a very difficult and treacherous competition, with no room for error. Just like in the previous two matches, we will enter the match fully focused and concentrated on putting in a good performance to return home with a spot in the quarterfinals. I'm happy to be able to debut and, as always, I will do my best to help my teammates achieve another good result and advance in the competition," said goalkeeper Hugo Souza.