Until the end! Lincoln scores in the 48th minute and Flamengo draws the first leg of the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals
Mengão holds Grêmio in Porto Alegre and the decision in Rio is completely open
By Lucas Dantas - in
In frigid Porto Alegre, the first round of the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals ended in a draw, but with one victorious team on the moral high ground. Flamengo outplayed Grêmio for 89 minutes. The only time they faltered, they capitalized. But, maintaining the strength of the team with the most wins and goals in the Copa do Brasil, Mengão pounded, crushed, fought, never gave up, and turned the cold into a fire to tie the match in the final kick and level the score. With the draw, and without the qualifying goal rule, the return leg, in Rio de Janeiro on the 15th, is completely equal. Once again, equal in numbers. Because if one team emerged victorious today, this team wore red and black.
The match marked Vitinho's debut. And it wasn't a simple, ordinary debut. The young striker didn't want to be nervous and attacked Grêmio as he used to do during his time in Porto Alegre. He went all out and turned Grêmio's right flank into a living hell. The winning goal came from that very flank, after 48 minutes of constant pressure and no counterattacks conceded to the home side. A performance that proved Flamengo's strength and filled the nation with hope for the return leg.
The game
Despite the nine-degree heat that was punishing Porto Alegre, both teams started the game with a bang. Cheered on by the packed Arena fans, Grêmio pushed forward and put Flamengo under pressure with a shot from Luan after just 15 seconds, but Diego Alves, well-positioned, made a good save. The pace didn't slow down, and the teams shared every ball, but without fouls or stopping the game. In the ninth minute, Marlos Moreno made a great individual play and tested Marcelo Ghroe for the first time with a good shot from outside the box.
The match largely revolved around midfield, and chances dwindled. It wasn't until the 22nd minute that Flamengo again attacked. Marlos dropped down quickly and found Cuéllar at speed. The ball fell to the Colombian's left foot, making it difficult for him to shoot, but Kannemann blocked it, and the attack went wide.
And in the 30th minute, the best chance so far. Rodinei made a mad dash for the right and shot, but Ghroe made a great save. The scream of goal lingered in his throat. Five minutes later, Cuéllar collected a corner rebound and nearly chipped the Grêmio goalkeeper. But Grêmio scored first. Leo Moura burst into the box and found Luan, who fired a powerful shot past Diego Alves in the 37th minute, and the home side finished the first 45 minutes ahead.
The second half played at the same pace as the first, but with fewer chances for both sides. The ball continued to be fought over in the middle, and the goalkeepers were underperforming. In the 18th minute, Barbieri brought on Vitinho for Marlos Moreno. A minute later, the red-and-blacks had their first good chance. Renê found Diego, but his shot was weak, making it easy for Ghroe to save. Soon after, another good chance arrived. Paquetá took advantage of a ball stolen by Everton Ribeiro and shot, but it went too high.
Flamengo pressed Grêmio at home, looking for an equalizer, while their rivals parked a blue-black-and-white bus just outside the penalty area. The match was evenly matched, but all the offensive action belonged to Grêmio. Paquetá had a great chance in the 41st minute, after a solo run. In the 45th minute, Cuéllar made a beautiful run down the left and crossed for Diego, but his header, free on the edge of the six-yard box, went over the goal.
The end of the game was approaching, the clock was their biggest enemy, and eight degrees Celsius was terrifying on the thermometer, but Flamengo wanted to turn the spark that refused to ignite into fire. And in the final play, Renê played a one-two with Everton Ribeiro, went to the baseline, and crossed for Lincoln to get his only touch on the ball and tie the match. The Grêmio Arena changed its soundtrack, and only Mengo's shout could be heard in the stands. There is still justice in football.