In their home debut in the Libertadores, Flamengo beat Palestino 2-0, this Wednesday (10), at Maracanã. Pedro and Léo Ortiz, the debutant of the night, scored the goals that gave Mengão the victory. With the result, Rubro-Negro added four points in Group E of the continental competition.

The game
The match began with Flamengo pressing Palestino's ball out, trying to regain possession and create chances. The first good opportunity came in the seventh minute. Arrascaeta took a free kick inside the box, and Léo Pereira headed wide.

The Red-Blacks continued to press the Chilean team in search of the first goal. In the 9th minute, Varela passed the ball into the box to Cebolinha, who headed it firmly into the corner. Rigamonti managed to palm it away. Next, the Red-Blacks' attack made another strong move. Arrascaeta received the ball on the right, cleared the play, and passed it to Ayrton Lucas, who fired a cross that the goalkeeper saved well.

And it took just 20 minutes for Mengão to open the scoring at Maraca! Cebolinha found Ayrton Lucas in the box, and the full-back unleashed a powerful shot. The ball deflected off the defender and fell to top scorer Pedro, who lobbed the goalkeeper and headed the ball into the net: 1-0.

With the advantage, Mais Querido continued to value possession in its attacking half. Palestino, on the other hand, remained deep, waiting for an opportunity to counterattack.

In the 42nd minute, Varela reached the baseline and crossed for Pedro to head, but Rigamonti made the save. In stoppage time, Luiz Araújo lifted the ball into the box for Léo Ortiz, making his debut that night, to head into the top corner, forcing another save from the goalkeeper. With complete control, Flamengo went into halftime ahead.

In the second half, Palestino began to attack more, posing a threat to Rossi's goal. In the 9th minute, Flamengo threatened again with Arrascaeta, who unleashed a powerful shot, but the ball went over the bar. Arrascaeta then attempted a volley in the box, but the goalkeeper palmed it away for a corner.

In the 31st minute, Pedro found the net again, but VAR flagged the striker for offside. Mengão continued to press and scored the second goal through the night's debutant. Lorran, who had just come on, took a corner kick into the box, and Léo Ortiz, at the near post, deflected it into the net, sealing the red-and-blacks' 2-0 home victory.

Commitment of the week
Mengão returns to the field next Sunday (14) to face Atlético-GO, at 16 pm, at Serra Dourada, in the debut of the Brasileirão.

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

Palestino
Rigamonti; Benjamín Rojas, Ceza, Cristian Suárez and Zúñiga; Linares, Dávila (Cornejo), Abrigo (Chamorro) and Véjar (Palacio); Benítez (Carrasco) and Gonzalo Sosa (Marabel).
Coach: Pablo Sanchez.

Technical sheet
Flamengo 2x0 Palestino – 2nd Round of Group E of the Conmebol Libertadores
Location: Maracanã-RJ
Date and time: 10/04/2024 at 21:30 pm
Arbitration: Facundo Tello (ARG), Gabriel Chade (ARG), and Sebastian Raineri (ARG)
Yellow cards: Linares (CDP), Benjamín Rojas (CDP), Erick Pulgar (FLA), Ceza (CDP), Cornejo (CDP) and De La Cruz (FLA)
Goals: Pedro (20'1st half) and Léo Ortiz (39'2nd half).

END OF THE GAME AT MARACA! Mengão beat Palestino (CHI) 2-0 with goals from Pedro and Léo Ortiz, in the group stage of the Conmebol Libertadores! #CRF #Let's Flamengo pic.twitter.com/z8lGARtO1v

- Flamengo (@Flamengo) April 11, 2024