In the final round of the Guanabara Cup group stage, Flamengo defeated Nova Iguaçu 1-0 at Mané Garrincha Stadium in Brasília. Ranked first before the match even kicked off, coach Paulo César Carpegiani used the match to give his players a chance to practice, as they returned for preseason training on January 13th.

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During the opening half, it was a monologue. With extensive possession and overwhelming numbers in the opponent's defensive half, the red-and-black team created the main opportunities. Despite having played only a few minutes in 2018 so far, the passing game during the build-up play was high-quality, creating space in the opponent's defensive sector. However, the accuracy of the attackers and good interventions by goalkeeper Jefferson prevented the opening of the scoring.

With plenty of movement in the midfield and attack, several scoring chances were created on the wings and in the center of the pitch, with plenty of support from the midfielders and full-backs. Young center forward Lincoln came close to scoring in two key plays of the first half. In the first, Lucas Paquetá found the number 9 in the penalty area with a beautiful pass. Lincoln attempted to chip the goalkeeper, but his shot was weak and blocked by the defense. In the next play, Everton Ribeiro passed to Lincoln, who beat the defense and crossed the ball, but Jefferson made a great save.

The electric start to the first half wasn't repeated in the final 45 minutes. Still searching for optimal fitness, the players began to feel the strain from the midway point of the second half. With this in mind, manager Carpegiani made three changes to the team. At halftime, right-back Rodinei replaced Pará. In the 15th minute, Lincoln was replaced by Vinicius Júnior. Finally, Marlos Moreno came on to replace Diego in the 25th minute. Despite the new blood in the attack, the defensive block imposed by the Baixada Fluminense team made the work of the Mais Querido's creative team difficult.

The Rubro-Negro team began to exploit aerial balls, with triangulations down the flanks targeting taller players. Paquetá, who sought infiltrations through the middle, and Rhodolfo and Juan, who alternated when pushing forward, were the main targets. Despite numerous attempts, the opponent's good posture kept the score unchanged.

As the game drew to a close, a stunning goal from Rhodolfo secured the three points for the Gávea club. The referee had signaled four minutes of stoppage time. With the match drawing to a close, a draw was all but certain. True to his performance and the fighting spirit of all who wear the Sacred Mantle, the defender ran through the middle and took a shot from a long shot. A veritable bomb shot from Rhodolfo's right foot found the corner of Jefferson's goal, bulging the net and sending the nation into a frenzy that had gathered at the Mané Garrincha stadium to support Flamengo. A truly stunning goal!

The victory caps a near-perfect campaign in the group stage of the first round of the Campeonato Carioca. With first place in Group B secured with 13 points, the red-and-black team's opponent in the semifinals will be Botafogo, in a single classic in which the Mais Querido will have the advantage of a draw. The match will be played on Saturday, February 10th.