BuzzFla: Flamengo and the Nation. A Unique Force.
Today's knockout match. And we've highlighted some moments where the energy in the stands pushed the team forward.
By Lucas Dantas - in
The symbiosis between the Red-Black Nation and Flamengo is unique and global. Even a Tibetan monk who has been taking a vow of silence on a mountaintop for 60 years knows this. But every time a decisive match approaches, this connection is always remembered. Many times the team needed the strength of the stands to win a game, and it delivered. Driven by the crowd that never stopped believing, Mengão achieved victories that seemed to be slipping away from the Maracanã pitch.
This Wednesday, the Mais Querido will open the Conmebol Libertadores Round of 16 series against Cruzeiro, seeking to build a significant lead and secure another spot in the quarterfinals in the second leg in Belo Horizonte. And to do so, they'll once again rely on the power of the stands. The Greatest Show on Earth will be there to support the team.
In today's BuzzFla, we look back at some moments when Flamengo's fans were essential to achieving a significant victory. Do you remember any of them? Check them out below.
1. To win the Brazilian Championship
The 1980 Brazilian Championship final was arguably the biggest in the competition's history. It's always remembered for its combined attendance of two largest crowds, at Mineirão and Maracanã, as a duel between two stars considered the greatest on their teams: Zico, of course, for Flamengo, and Reinaldo, for Atlético-MG.
In the first leg, in Minas Gerais, Atlético won 1-0. They would play in Rio with the advantage of a draw. They celebrated. In the locker room, Junior saw Raul worried and said to him, "Don't be like that. Do you think that with Zico and the fans, we can't win at Maracanã?" He knew. And it was true.
There were 154.355 fans. Atlético brought a crowd. Flamengo packed the stadium. And the nation didn't stop cheering from the start. And it was right at the start, in the seventh minute, that Zico sent in Nunes to open the scoring and energize the crowd.
Atlético equalized, Zico put Mengão back in front, Reinaldo equalized again, and then the myths took over. In the 37th minute of the second half, the tie favored the Minas Gerais team. That's when Nunes, in the left corner of the attack, right in front of the crowd, dribbled past Silvestre and scored the winning goal. The goal that made the fans roar nonstop, deafening any Atlético player, and securing the title. It was the first time Brazil saw such strength under one roof.
3. The tri came with the dough
In the 1983 Brazilian Championship, the same scenario as in 1980 repeated itself. Flamengo lost the first leg to Santos and had to reverse the defeat at the Maracanã. The—now forever—largest crowd in the history of the Brazilian Championship turned out at the stadium on May 29th to see Flamengo overturn the defeat.
And, just like in 1980, the goal came right at the start. And that's the beginning of it. Fifty seconds into the game, Zico made it 1-0. Santos was stunned, and Leandro extended the lead, scoring the goal that gave Mengão the title.
Santos woke up. They knew a goal would ruin everything for the Rio de Janeiro team and went all out. But they left Robertinho free on the right. The winger heard the crowd's chants of "Go, Go!" and went for it. He made a fuss with the ball before crossing for Adílio to score the third, killing the game and turning the Maracanã into a red-and-black tsunami that will never be surpassed in the entire future of the championship. And that was the day the crowd, once again, pushed the team. They pushed Robertinho, lifted Adílio, and blasted the ball into the back of the net. Santos, three-time champion.
4. Even Saint Jude Thaddeus was in the stands
Forty-three minutes. A goal for everyone to celebrate. Vasco had the advantage. Winning the third Rio de Janeiro title was a distant possibility, but still a reality in the hearts of the Flamengo fans present at Maracanã on May 27, 2001.
The decision could break Flamengo's two-title streak over its rival. A streak written in the hearts of the fans. In all three finals, the team drew from the stands the strength needed to overcome a technically superior team with more established players.
In 1999, Romário left early in the final, and Edmundo's Vasco became even more of a favorite. Without its star player, Flamengo had to reinvent itself on the field and with determination, with the roar of the fans, who, despite being an inferior team, made up the vast majority of the stands. And so it was until Rodrigo Mendes scored the title-winning free kick. Then, with a roar and a ball, Flamengo held off Vasco and lifted the trophy.
The following year, an even stronger Vasco, now with Romário at his side, faced a Flamengo side that had been shot and wounded. Their pride had been shaken by the tragic Guanabara Cup match. The team, led by Carlinhos, recovered, won the Rio Cup, and advanced to the final against their biggest rival.
To help the team, the Nation innovated. Instead of chants and flags, they used horns and whistles to blow every time Vasco got the ball. Remember the vuvuzelas from the Africa Cup? It was much worse. There was anger, pride, and faith in those blows. And so, Mengão scored a 3-0 lead in the first game, practically ending the series. In the second match, the horns returned, the 2-1 victory came, and the Guanabara Cup was sealed with a second consecutive title over their rival.
Cut to 2001. Flamengo was seeking its twenty-first state title. Against them, Vasco, the Brazilian champion, had the advantage, having won the first game 2-1. It was the most difficult scenario of the three years.
Edílson made it 1-0. It still wasn't enough. Another goal needed to come. Viola equalized. The lead was once again huge, and Vasco's. Edílson scored another. One more to go. And São Judas Tadeu (RODRIGUES, Washington "Apolinho") arrived in the stands. Pet took the ball to take the free kick of his life. Forty thousand hands reached out in the crowd on the left side of the stands. The ball flew. Forty-three minutes. It went in. Goal. It wasn't just Pet. It was everyone who came together. Three-time champion.
5. Raised dust
You never shout "olé" against Flamengo before the hour. Fluminense fans committed this crime and paid the price with the death penalty. Felipe was the judge, and Roger the executioner who carried out the sentence. In 2004, for the state championship, the derby drew around 60 fans to Maracanã. Jean opened the scoring for Flamengo, but Rodolfo and Romário twice turned the score around and extended the lead for Fluminense.
They began to shout olé. They were in an absolute minority, barely audible on the other side of the stadium, but they did. The Nation responded by singing the anthem and then told the whole world about the joy of being a red-and-black fan. Felipe heard it and quieted it down. Fluminense felt the blow. The dust began to rise. Felipe found Roger, and the full-back equalized. Nothing could be heard from the right side of the radio booths. From the left, an unprecedented amount of dust rose. Roger scored another, and then, yes, there was no stopping it. "Dust, dust!" the Red-and-Black Nation shouted at the top of their lungs, filled with pride and passion. And the olé changed sides. But there was no one left to hear it.
6. The Victory Theme
The year was 2009. A song that had inspired a national idol on the track now fueled the national team on the field. A tireless Flamengo saw the opportunity to win the Brazilian Championship appear with each round. Coming from behind, against teams with far more points, Mengão began to eat away at the edges and, in true "let it get you there" style, finally arrived.
In the "decisive" match against Grêmio, a victory was enough. On December 06th, more than 80 fans packed the Maracanã stadium to witness the consecration of Adriano and Petkovic, the team's stars. However, even facing a depleted and disinterested Grêmio, the ball stubbornly refused to go in. Nervousness took over the players, but not the fans. The thought of Ayrton Senna's victory was driving Flamengo.
I will always love you
Wherever you are, I will be
Oh my Mengo!
You are a traditional team
Race, love and passion
Oh my Mengo!
And it was to the sound of this melody, lingering in the players' ears, that Petkovic took that corner kick and Ronaldo Angelim headed in the winning goal. The fans believed. The team believed. Maracanã believed. The sixth title came because Flamengo is a team of tradition, grit, love, and passion.
7. Until the end.
If Cruzeiro is today's rival, then we recall the 2013 Copa do Brasil. In the first game, at their home ground, they won 2-1. They were favorites, future Brazilian champions. A very difficult match was shaping up for Flamengo.
Elias's starting lineup was only confirmed shortly before the match. When his name appeared on the screen, the fans celebrated like a goal. Almost 50 red-and-black fans that night of August 28th. But on the other side was a strong Cruzeiro team with the rules in their favor.
Race, fight, dedication, but the goal just wouldn't come. Paulinho, Moreno, Hernane... they all tried, but they couldn't beat Fábio. That's when, once again, the stands spoke. And shouted. And pushed. A goal was all the team needed. But it had to be a hard-fought one.
Eighty-eight minutes into the match, Paulinho ran down the right and crossed for Elias to appear like a flash and fire past the Cruzeiro goalkeeper. The redemption goal, celebrated in the crowd with hugs and tears. The qualifying goal. The goal that demonstrated, once again, the power of this unique symbiosis.
Today, at Maracanã, there's more. Let's go, Flamengo!