Under-20s draw with Vasco in the first match of the Carioca Championship final
A 1-1 draw leaves the final for next Saturday at the Maracanã Stadium. Another draw will send the match to penalties.
By Ian Sena - inFlamengo's U-20 team was superior for most of the game and even took the lead, but was unable to secure victory in the first leg of the U-20 Carioca Championship final. The 1-1 draw (Bill) against Vasco, on Saturday morning (12) at the Moça Bonita Stadium, in Bangu, leaves everything undecided for the second leg of the decision, scheduled for next Saturday (19), at 16 pm, at Maracanã, in the preliminary of the classic between the professional teams valid for the Brazilian Championship.
Perhaps due to the intense heat in Bangu, the derby started off very slow and measured between the two teams, with no scoring chances until the technical timeout. The first opportunity arose only in the 22nd minute, and it fell to the Ninho Boys. Luiz Henrique pressed and stole the ball from defender Miranda. He burst into the box and, with the option of passing to a well-positioned Ramon, opted to shoot, but Alex easily saved. Vasco came close with Luan in the 29th minute. Gabriel Batista came out well and made a great save.
Vasco's Mais Querido (the most beloved team) was starting to gain some traction, and chances were coming their way. In the 33rd minute, Theo passed to Bill, who carried the ball and fired it over the Vasco goal from the edge of the box. In the 35th minute, Klebinho delivered a fine cross to Vitor Gabriel. The striker tried to get ahead of the defense, but his shot was blocked, and the ball went out for a goal kick. The pressure was intense, and Vasco's Rubro-Negro (the red-and-blacks) broke the deadlock in the 36th minute. Once again, Bill received the ball and charged at the defense. He cut through the defense and fired a crisp shot from outside the box, leaving goalkeeper Alex with no chance.
In the first minute of the second half, Ramon committed a dangerous free kick just outside the box. Luan took the shot, Gabriel Batista made a partial save, and Dantas arrived in the nick of time, blocking the rebound and saving Vasco's "Mais Querido." In the 13th minute, a blitz by Vasco's attack narrowly missed a second goal. Klebinho took a corner, Dantas rose and flicked the ball toward goal. The ball deflected off the defense, bounced off Aderlan, and the Vasco defender cleared it on the line. Ramon fired a first-time shot from the rebound, Norões cut it out, and Hugo Moura collected the rebound with a powerful shot. Well-positioned, Alex made the save.
Vasco nearly equalized in the 15th minute. Norões headed the ball, but it fell to Luan, who fired a powerful shot. Gabriel Batista made another excellent save. Dantas cleared the rebound on the line and cleared the ball away from the box. In the 24th minute, Yuri launched a counterattack with lightning speed. He ran across the field and passed it to Pepê, who fired from the edge of the box. The ball went wide of Alex's goal.
In the 27th minute, Lucas Santos appeared in good position inside the Mais Querido box, and the referee awarded a penalty to Dantas. Lucas Santos himself took the penalty, leveling the score. Flamengo went on the attack and pressed again. In the 35th minute, Yuri, who had started the match very well, made a good individual play and fired a powerful shot over the goal. A minute later, Pepê spun and struck a well-placed shot. The ball deflected off the defense and went just wide of the left post. In the 38th minute, Theo took a long-range shot, but Alex saved it again. In the 40th minute, Hugo Moura unleashed a powerful shot, and Alex made a great save.
The pressure was on Vasco, but Lucas Santos hit the post in the 42nd minute. It was the last chance of the match. The final will be played at Maracanã Stadium next Saturday at 16 p.m.
Flamengo: Gabriel Batista, Klebinho (Vitor Ricardo), Aderlan (Bernardo), Dantas, Ramon; Hugo Moura, Theo, Pepê (Christopher); Bill (Wendel), Luiz Henrique (Yuri) and Vitor Gabriel. Coach: Marcio Torres.