BuzzFla - Copa do Brasil: Flamengo's Round of 16

Check out some interesting facts from previous campaigns in this phase.

By Lucas Dantas - in 10/05/2018 às 10:46

Today is Copa do Brasil day, today is the Round of 16, today is Mengão on the field! Flamengo and Ponte Preta face off at the Maracanã, later today at 7:30 PM, in a battle to advance to the quarterfinals. Flamengo has the advantage after their 1-0 victory in Campinas. A draw will see them through. There are no more away goals in this competition. And it's going to be a full house! More than 48,000 tickets have already been sold, more will be available, and we'll have another spectacular crowd tonight.

Flamengo, the team with the most wins in the Copa do Brasil (101 victories), has played in and advanced to the Round of 16 several times. How many times? Against whom? Check out the interesting facts we've gathered below and get ready for the game later today.

1. Octaves in numbers

There were 20 participations in this phase. In all the editions that Flamengo competed in (21), only in 2016 did they not reach the round of 16. And in the 20 times they competed in the knockout stage, they advanced in 17, falling in only three. On eight occasions, Flamengo did not compete in the Copa do Brasil (1991, 1992, 1994, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012) because they were involved in other competitions or because they did not qualify (according to the old criteria of the competition).

2. The biggest defeat

The round of 16 in the Copa do Brasil isn't known for high-scoring matches. Usually, the teams that reach this stage have already passed through a rigorous selection process and arrive with strong credentials. But sometimes, more modest teams advance... In 1995, Flamengo faced Kaburé from Tocantins in the round of 16. In the first leg, Flamengo won 1-0. In the return leg, at Gávea, Flamengo showed no mercy. It was 8-0. EIGHT. Four goals, eight goals. In the first half, Sávio practiced free kicks and scored two, making it 4-0. In the second half, it was a walk in the park, and Charles Guerreiro scored a fantastic goal, his second for Flamengo in two consecutive games. Top scorer! It ended up being his second goal in 254 games overall, but let's leave that aside. Relive the masterpiece alongside.

3. The most painful

In 2014, Flamengo needed to overturn a very difficult result to advance. In the first leg, Coritiba had won 3-0. They needed at least a draw to have any chance. And Flamengo did it. Alecssandro scored twice from penalties and Eduardo da Silva completed the scoring. The match went to penalties, where Chicão, Eduardo da Silva, and Canteros scored, and Flamengo advanced to the quarterfinals. Relive here Eduardo da Silva's goal, which tied the game and allowed for the penalty shootout.

4. The most epic

The year was 2013. Flamengo and Cruzeiro were playing an electrifying classic in the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. At the Mineirão stadium, Cruzeiro won with a "pretty" goal from Everton Ribeiro. But Carlos Eduardo scored for Flamengo, making the score 2-1, and the return leg was in Rio. What a game! Maracanã was packed, nerves were on edge on the field, it was the game against the team that would become the Brazilian champion that year. A goal that the team needed. Just one goal. And it took a while, but it came. In the 43rd minute, Paulinho raced down the right flank like lightning and passed the ball into the middle of the area. Elias, with a first-time shot, sent Cruzeiro home and Flamengo advanced. It was the year of the Copa do Brasil title. It had to be epic.

5. The rematch

In 1999, Flamengo had to face a ghost to advance in the competition. After eliminating Ponte Preta, Grêmio would be their next opponent. Grêmio, who had already eliminated Flamengo on several previous occasions. But not this time. This time, Romário and company dispatched the Gaúchos. In the first leg, a 2-1 victory at the Olímpico stadium. In the second leg, a 2-2 draw at the Maracanã, with goals from Fabão and Romário, who had played for the Brazilian National Team the day before in Spain, took a plane, traveled all night, and faced Grêmio. And he even scored a goal. And he even qualified the team.