Mengão took the lead in the first game of the Carioca semifinals by beating Fluminense 2-0 on Saturday night (9) at Maracanã. Cebolinha and Pedro scored for Rubro-Negro.

With absolute dominance for much of the match, Mengão gained a great advantage for the return leg and could even lose by two goals to advance to the final.

The game
Flamengo started the derby by pressing Fluminense's ball out. The red-and-black team's first good attack came just two minutes in. Felipe Melo cleared the ball poorly, and it fell to Luiz Araújo, who passed it to Pedro. The number 9 attempted a shot, but the ball was deflected for a corner.

Another breakthrough for the red-and-black team in the eighth minute. Arrascaeta sent a low cross into the box, and the ball fell to Cebolinha, who fired a superb shot, forcing Fábio to make a good save. In the 16th minute, the game's first goal was nearly scored. Fluminense made a poor play, and Erick got the ball and passed it to De La Cruz. The Uruguayan cut inside, shot, and the ball went just wide of the post.

Around the 20th minute, Fluminense attempted to apply pressure on the attack, but Flamengo quickly recovered and returned to prowling the Tricolor box through passing. In the 27th minute, Pedro nearly scored a stunning goal. Fabrício Bruno headed the ball to the forward, who controlled it and attempted a bicycle kick. The ball went wide.

The Red-Blacks continued to create opportunities to score the first. In the 30th minute, Arrascaeta crossed perfectly for Pedro to head in unmarked, but Fábio made the save.

After so much persistence, Mengão was crowned with a goal in first-half stoppage time. Pulgar crossed perfectly for Cebolinha to head home and make the nation celebrate: 1-0.

Early in the second half, Ayrton Lucas felt a thigh discomfort and was replaced by Viña. At a disadvantage, Fluminense came out more, allowing the red-and-black team to counterattack. In the 7th minute, Arrascaeta provided a good pass to Cebolinha on the left; he cut inside and took a shot that went just wide of Fábio's left post.

De La Cruz then found Luiz Araújo in the box, the striker struck hard and forced a good save from the goalkeeper. In the 16th minute, Thiago Santos committed a very harsh foul on Cebolinha, and after consulting VAR, the referee sent off the Tricolor defender. Previously, he had only given a yellow card.

With an extra man, the Mais Querido began to completely dominate the attacking half and created several opportunities. In the 22nd minute, Cebolinha was released on the left, crossed into the box, and the ball fell to De La Cruz, but the Uruguayan mishit the ball.

In the 33rd minute, Bruno Henrique passed to Arrascaeta on the right side of the box, and he fired a well-placed shot. The ball went just wide of the post. Once again, Mengão scored their second goal in the 45th minute. After a well-rehearsed corner kick, Arrascaeta delivered a perfect cross for Pedro to head into the net, sealing the victory.

With another goal scored, Mengão's number 9 became the top scorer at the new Maracanã

Next appointment
Rubro-Negro returns to the field next Saturday (16) to face Fluminense again, at 21 pm, at Maracanã, for the second game of the semifinals of the Campeonato Carioca.

Flamengo
Rossi; Varela, Fabricio Bruno, Leo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas (Viña); Erick Pulgar (Igor Jesus), De La Cruz and Arrascaeta; Everton Cebolinha (Victor Hugo), Luiz Araújo (Bruno Henrique) and Pedro.
Coach: Tite.

Fluminense
Fabio; Guga, Thiago Santos, Felipe Melo (Antônio Carlos) and Diogo Barbosa (Marcelo); Martinelli, Renato Augusto (Manoel) and Ganso (Lima); John Arias, Keno (Lelê) and Germán Cano.
Coach: Fernando Diniz.

Technical sheet
Fluminense 0x2 Flamengo – First leg of the semifinals of the Campeonato Carioca
Location: Maracanã, RJ
Date and time: 09/03/2024 at 21:XNUMX PM
Arbitration: Yuri Elino Ferreira da Cruz, Rodrigo F. Henrique Corrêa and Lilian da Silva F. Bruno
Yellow cards: De La Cruz (FLA), Guga (FLU), Martinelli (FLU), Felipe Melo (FLU)
Red card: Thiago Santos (FLU)
Goals: Everton Cebolinha (46'1st half) and Pedro (45'2nd half).