U-20s beat America 4-0 and reach the OPG Tournament final
With a hat trick from Vitor Gabriel, Garotos do Ninho surpassed themselves and will decide the title against Fluminense next Saturday (17)
By Nathan Mello - in
On an inspired afternoon for Vitor Gabriel, Flamengo's U-20 team returned to winning ways in the OPG Tournament by beating América 4-0 in Gávea. With three goals in the match, the number 9 scored the rout, which put Flamengo in the final of the competition. The Boys from the Nest face Fluminense next Saturday (17), at 16 pm, with the venue to be defined.
Flamengo entered the final round of the OPG in second place, three points behind leaders Olaria. With zero goal difference, qualification for the final depended on a resounding victory for the Rubro-Negro, coupled with a stumble by the team from Rua Bariri. And that's exactly what happened. Olaria lost to Madureira 2-1, and Flamengo won.
The game:
A very sunny and hot afternoon in Rio de Janeiro was perhaps the main reason the teams started off uninspired and squandered every opportunity. Although the scoreboard indicated a major and perhaps comfortable victory, it wasn't quite that way in Gávea.
Needing a significant result, the Garotos do Ninho opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Klebinho received the ball on the right and crossed to Vitor Gabriel's head. The striker's second goal was not long in coming. Three minutes later, Flamengo attacked in a great attacking transition, and Lucas Silva passed to the number 9 to extend the lead.
Even with a 2-0 lead, Flamengo was about to bid farewell to OPG. Olaria was losing 1-0 to Madureira in Conselheiro Galvão, but still had two goals left to score. América was relentless, the clock ticking, and their chances of reaching the final were dwindling.
But it was with a lot of spirit, with the Flamengo spirit, in the 40th minute of the second half that Klebinho scored the third for Mais Querido. Luiz Henrique lifted the ball into the box and the full-back scored with a header.
With a three-nil lead, Flamengo had equalized with Olaria and the team's qualification was beginning to take shape, but time was short. Only five minutes of regulation time. In stoppage time, Bill set up Vitor Gabriel, who scored the goal that sealed Mengão's qualification.
Flamengo:
Vitor Hugo, Klebinho, Nathan, Patrick, and Vitinho; Matheus Alves, Luiz Henrique, Yuri, Wendel, and Lucas Silva; Vitor Gabriel. Coach: Marcio Torres