After winning the Guanabara Cup, Flamengo's U-20 team debuted with a victory in the Rio Cup this Wednesday (May 06.05). At the start of the second half of the category's Carioca championship, coach José Ricardo fielded a new team. With only two players who had started in the previous matches (Ronaldo and Marquinhos), the team defeated Macaé 3-0 at Gávea. There were no goals in the first half. The Mais Querido returned unchanged for the second half. Thiago Santos scored the first goal of the match and Luã extended the lead. In the 47th minute of the second half, Lucas Paquetá scored the third, closing out the scoring.

With fifteen fewer players (five players are training with the professional team, five on leave, and five in the medical department), the newly formed group demonstrated quality and potential, giving coach José Ricardo more options to work with. "With planning and the right strategy, the goal is this: to reach the end of the year with more options. We made a plan, and with the end of the Guanabara Cup, we released the group that played more than 70% of the competition for a short break. We have a good group and can plan accordingly," explained the coach.

On the field were: João Lopes, Rocha, Willyan, Dener, Ronaldo (Captain), Marquinhos, Nathan, Davi, Wayni, Paquetá and Thiago Santos. Vizeu also played in Wayni's place, and Luã in Nathan's place.

The next match for Rubro-Negro is this Saturday (09.05) against Barra Mansa, at Leão do Sul. On June 03rd, the boys debut in the Brazilian Championship of the category. Present in Group B, the red-black team faces Vitória, Corinthians, Coritiba and Grêmio in the first phase.

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