Knowing that a simple victory would mathematically guarantee them a place in the general semifinals of the State Championship, as well as practically qualifying them for the semifinals of the Rio Cup, Flamengo attacked Volta Redonda from the first minute of the match played this Saturday morning (03.06), in Gávea. The 3-1 comeback victory (Lincoln [2] and Patrick) further extends the Mais Querido's lead in both the Rio Cup and the overall championship standings, and only a draw in the final two rounds (Tigres and Nova Iguaçu) will be enough to mathematically confirm all possible advantages in the final stages of the Carioca.

Aware of the importance of securing early qualification for the Carioca semifinals, on the eve of the Copa do Brasil final, coach Gilmar Popoca fielded his best players, and the Garotos do Ninho were overwhelmingly superior throughout the match. In the 7th minute, Kleber made a great play, cutting deep, and crossing to Gabriel Silva, who fumbled the ball and missed it under the net. In the 9th minute, Jean Lucas took a dangerous shot from outside the box. In the 15th minute, after a good exchange of passes, Jean Lucas again struck from the edge of the box, this time hitting goalkeeper Felipe Gomes's crossbar. Then, in the 19th minute, Kleber hit a cross from outside the box, but the ball skimmed the right post of Volta Redonda's goal.

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Just when the Rubro-Negro goal seemed ready, Volta Redonda opened the scoring. A powerful shot from outside the box in the 36th minute was partially saved by Yago, and Caio tapped the rebound into the back of the net. In the 43rd minute, Gabriel Silva's shot from the edge of the box hit the foot of the post, the Mais Querido's last chance of the first half.

Popoca replaced João Perdro with Patrick at halftime, and the pressure from the Ninho Boys continued in the second half. In the 15th minute, Lincoln controlled the ball beautifully with his chest and fired a well-placed shot. The ball hit the crossbar for the third time. On the next play, Fabrício crossed, and Patrick nearly equalized. But in the 19th minute, Volta Redonda couldn't hold out any longer. Fabrício saw Kleber's speeding pass down the right and rolled it in. The full-back fired a cross, the defense cleared it on the line, but Lincoln struck the rebound firmly to tie the game. 

The Rubro-Negro's dominance continued to be enormous, but it only translated into goals late in the game. In the 39th minute, Patrick took a fata' shot, which was brilliantly saved by Felipe Gomes. In the 40th minute, the comeback came. Patrick again got to the bottom and attempted a right-footed cross. The ball curled and went into the far corner of the goal. There was still time for Lincoln to score his second of the match, following a throw-in from Moraes inside the box, and seal another victory for the Garotos do Ninho in the State Championship.

Flamengo returns to the field on Thursday, June 08.06th, for the first leg of the Copa do Brasil final against Atlético MG, in Sete Lagoas, at 18:30 pm. The game will be broadcast live on SporTV and ESPN Brasil.

Today, the team was selected with Yago, Kleber, Bernardo, Thuler, Moraes, Theo, Jean Lucas, Lucas Silva, Gabriel Silva (Fabrício), João Pedro (Patrick) and Loran (Lincoln). Coach: Gilmar Popoca.