In the return of the main team of the pre-season, Flamengo beat Sampaio Corrêa 2-0, on Wednesday night (31), at Mangueirão, in the fifth round of Carioca. Bruno Henrique and Gabi scored Mengão's goals in the first half. Rubro-Negro will face the classic against Vasco, next Sunday (4).

The game
In the first ever meeting between the two teams, Flamengo started the match controlling possession in the attacking half. Flamengo's first good chance came in the seventh minute. David Luiz headed the ball into the box, but the goalkeeper stretched and made the save.

Two minutes later, Mengão opened the scoring in Belém! De La Cruz took a well-placed free kick, the goalkeeper rebounded, and Bruno Henrique got ahead of the defense and scored the first goal of the game: 1-0.  

After the goal, the red-and-black team continued to value possession in the attacking half. When Sampaio Corrêa tried to push forward, they quickly regrouped to win the ball back. In the 26th minute, Gabi got the ball and tried a shot from outside the box, but the ball went wide.

In the 30th minute, from a set piece, Arrascaeta passed the ball to Gabi, who unleashed a powerful shot. The ball deflected off the wall and nearly fooled the goalkeeper, but he managed to save it with his feet. Next, another good move from the red-and-black attack. David Luiz passed from the right to Wesley, who crossed low into the middle of the box. Gabi set up a cutback, and Arrascaeta fired a first-time shot, which Leandro Matheus saved.

Mengão extended their lead in the 41st minute with Gabi! Arrascaeta won the challenge, advanced toward the box, and passed to the number 10, who whipped the ball past the goalkeeper: 2-0. It's worth noting that with the goal, the striker ended a long drought without finding the net. The first half ended with the red-and-blacks in the lead.

After the break, coach Tite made two changes. Gerson and Erick were replaced by Luiz Araújo and Allan, respectively. In the eighth minute, Flamengo pressed forward with De La Cruz, who found Gabi free at the edge of the box, but the striker was blocked as he took a shot.

In the 11th minute, the red-and-black team recovered the ball in the attacking half, and Arrascaeta unleashed a powerful shot. The goalkeeper made the save in two attempts. The Mais Querido continued to maintain possession on the attack and look to create opportunities. In the 35th minute, Luiz Araújo dribbled diagonally and fired a powerful shot, which Leandro Matheus saved.

In the final minutes, Flamengo managed the result and left the field with the victory, the second in the competition after two draws in the last two rounds.

Next appointment
Rubro-Negro will face the classic against Vasco next Sunday (4), at 19 pm, at Maracanã, for the sixth round of the Campeonato Carioca.

Flamengo
Rossi; Wesley, David Luiz, Léo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas (Varela); Erick Pulgar (Allan), Gerson (Luiz Araújo), Arrascaeta (Matheus Gonçalves) and De La Cruz (Rayan Lucas); Bruno Henrique and Gabi.
Coach: Tite.

Sampaio Correa-RJ
Leandro Matheus; Roberto (Rafael Pernão), Indio, Thuram and Paulo Vítor (Guilherme); Eduardo Rosado (Elenilson), Marcelo and Rodrigo Dantas; Hugo Cabral (Max) Lucas Carvalho (Gabriel Agú) and Abner.
Coach: Silvestre dos Anjos.

Technical sheet
Sampaio Corrêa-RJ 0x2 Flamengo – 5th Round of the Carioca Championship
Location: Mangueirão Stadium, Belém-PA
Date and time: 31/01/2024 at 21:30 pm
Arbitration: Carlos Tadeu Ferreira de Castro, Gustavo Mota Correia and Raphael Carlos de Almeida Tavares
Yellow cards: Paulo Vitor (SCO), Thuram (SCO), Rodrigo Dantas (SCO), Allan (FLA)
Goals: Bruno Henrique (9'1st half) and Gabi (41'1st half).