After winning the Guanabara Cup in 2016 and 2017, Flamengo's under-17 team won the competition's third consecutive title on Saturday afternoon (29), beating Portuguesa 7-0, in Gávea, in the last round of the group stage of the competition. Lázaro (twice), Bruno Gabriel, Yuri, Pedro Arthur, João Gabriel and Passarinho (own goal), scored the goals in the Rubro-negra rout.

The competition's third title comes to crown a solid and consistent campaign in the championship, as highlighted by coach Phelipe Leal at the end of the match.

"After two international victories, we knew the Guanabara Cup, in a points-based format, would be very close. After many months, being crowned champion is a source of satisfaction and the certainty that we were able to instill in the Flamengo players the need to constantly strive for victory and titles."

In addition to the "Garotos do Ninho" (Nest Boys), Vasco, Botafogo, and Fluminense, who finished second, third, and fourth respectively, will compete in the State Championship semifinals, a two-legged affair. "Mais Querido" (The Most Beloved) will play the first leg against Fluminense on the 13th, away from home (venue to be determined). The final will be decided on the 20th, in Gávea.

It's worth noting that in addition to the Guanabara Cup, the U-17 category had already lifted two international trophies this season: the adidas Generation Cup in Dallas and, recently, the Evergrande Cup in China.

As expected, given the importance of the match, the Ninho Boys went all out against Portuguesa. Ten minutes into the match, Lázaro opened the scoring. After a throw-in in the opponent's box, Rhyan headed the ball, the number 11 controlled it with his chest and fired a cross-shot. A beautiful goal! A minute later, Bruninho again threatened the visitors with a superb shot from the edge of the box, the ball skimming the post.

In the 24th minute, Mengão made it 2-0. Ítalo took a free kick from the right, and Passarinho deflected it into his own net. The Portuguese side barely reached the goal defended by Paulo Victor, who, in stoppage time of the first half, saw Lázaro's second goal of the match and Flamengo's third from behind. Yuri carried the ball down the right, burst into the box, and crossed perfectly for "Zarin" to hit another beautiful first-time shot and extend the lead. 

After the break, Lusa came back more focused and dominated the opening minutes, but the Flamengo attack was in high spirits. In the 10th minute, Yuri played a good pass to Lázaro on the left, who knocked his marker out of the play and crossed for Bruno Gabriel to score Flamengo's fourth goal of the game.

Flamengo could have extended their lead with at least two attempts by Lázaro. In the best opportunity, the number 11 made a beautiful play at the edge of the box, dribbling past two defenders, but shot low, which the opposing goalkeeper easily saved. Three more goals followed late in the match. Yuri received the ball one-on-one with the goalkeeper and with a single chip beat the Portuguesa goalkeeper, scoring the fifth goal for the Boys from the Nest. In stoppage time, Pedro Arthur, who had just come on for Bruno Gabriel, added the sixth, and João Gabriel, who had also just come on, sealed the score. Flamengo 7-0 Portuguesa

The resounding score reflected the team's unified play. The U-17s thus won their third Guanabara Cup title and their third title of the 2018 season.

Pedro Victor, Luis Gustavo, Natan, Gabriel Noga, Italo; Gomes (Dhouglas), Lucas Gabriel and Lazaro; Yuri, Rhyan (João Gabriel) and Bruno Gabriel (Pedro Arthur).