On a gala night, Flamengo started the fight for a place in the grand final of the CONMEBOL Libertadores 2022 very well. The red-black team thrashed Vélez Sarsfield, away from home, 4-0, and goes to the return game, next Wednesday (7), at Maracanã, with a large advantage over the opponent.

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In addition to the consistent performance of Mais Querido, who won easily, Pedro reaffirmed his great phase in this season with a hat trick tonight: the striker reached 23 in the season - 11 in this edition of the Libertadores, remaining isolated in the tournament's top scorers and equaling his teammate Gabigol in 2022.

"We played a great game, we left with a big step, but nothing is won yet. We'll keep our feet on the ground for the next one. We went in with the goal of playing a great game and winning the away match, and we got a great result," said the number 21 after the final whistle.

The game

The match started hotly, with Gabi and Ortega clashing just two minutes into the match. Flamengo were undeterred and pressed forward, but the Argentines used brutality to contain Flamengo's attacking attacks. As the clock approached nine minutes, João Gomes broke down the left, cut to the right, and shot from the edge of the penalty area; the ball sailed just over the crossbar. From the same end of the field, in a very similar play, Pedro took a chance in the 12th minute, but goalkeeper Hoyos saved. Flamengo remained dominant, and Vélez only came closer in the 27th minute, when Janson received the ball at the edge of the box and fired a shot that Santos palmed away.

The first red-and-black goal came in the 31st minute. Rodinei initiated the play on the right flank, passed to defender Léo Pereira, who served as waiter with a superb cross to Pedro. Inside the box, the center forward, unmarked and well-positioned, needed only one touch to tap the ball into the net: 1-0 Mengão. Just four minutes later, the Argentine team startled the nation with a free kick that bounced off Santos's crossbar; Filipe Luís then cleared it.

Just before the first half ended, the star player wearing the number seven jersey and the captain's armband on his arm had time to extend his lead. After a steal from the Nest Boy João Gomes, a captivating exchange of passes brought together a constellation of Flamengo stars: Filipe Luís passed to Pedro, who passed to Everton Ribeiro, who found De Arrascaeta; the Uruguayan set up Gabi, who, with a first touch, passed it back to Ribeiro - and the midfielder only had to deflect it into the goal, updating the score and filling the Biggest Fanbase in the World with pride: 2-0.

Seven minutes into the second half, João Gomes won the ball in the middle, Gabriel got the ball, fired a counterattack, and, just in front of goal, was brought down with a hard foul, which earned opposing defender Valentín Gómez a yellow card; Léo Pereira's shot hit the wall. But the Gávea club's third goal was already ripe, coming again from Pedro Guilherme in the 15th minute. Delighting the fans with another beautiful play, Dorival Junior's men exchanged passes at the edge of the box until Filipe Luís found Gabi on the right; this time, playing waiter, Flamengo's top scorer this century delivered a through ball for the number 21 to tap over the opposing goalkeeper.

Even with a considerable lead, the Mais Querido didn't let up and nearly scored the fourth in the 22nd minute: João Gomes was responsible for leaving Gabi face-to-face with goal, but Hoyos made the save with his foot. In the 30th minute, another breathtaking exchange of passes ended with the ball in the net—albeit on the outside—after being treated by Pedro, Everton Ribeiro, Vidal, João, and Gabigol. But the deserved 4-0 was truly a matter of time—and it came with a hat trick in the 37th minute. Pedro was in charge of starting and finishing the play: first, he switched play to Arturo Vidal; the Chilean tried to pass to Gabigol, but the ball deflected off the defense and fell to the number 21 himself, who shot with a shot, shaved his beard, and mustache, and sealed the rout.

Word from the coach

"We had important points. First, we never gave up our ball possession, and that was crucial. By switching moves, we opened up the solidity of Vélez's defense, varying this initiation with plays down the wings and inside, with full-backs and midfielders, and Arrascaeta playing freely between the lines, presenting himself as a coordinating option to improve possession. I believe that with each passing moment we take a step closer to the consistency we've been showing. It's a pleasure to work with a group that understands the way this team does, that fulfills its demands to the letter. I'm very happy. Pedro is experiencing another great moment in his career. He's been dedicating himself daily, and his technical ability and the solutions he finds are natural to him, even more so with the participation of the entire group," said Dorival Junior in a press conference.

Flamengo lineup

Santos; Rodinei, David Luiz, Leo Pereira and Filipe Luis; João Gomes (Victor Hugo), Thiago Maia (Vidal), Everton Ribeiro (Diego Ribas) and De Arrascaeta (Erick Pulgar); Gabi (Everton Cebolinha) and Pedro.

Coach: Dorival Junior

Vélez lineup

Hoyos; Jara, De los Santos, Valentín Gómez, Ortega and Cáseres; Garayalde, Orellano (Julián Fernández) and Janson; Walter Bou (Osorio) and Lucas Pratto.

Coach: Alexander Medina

Technical sheet

Vélez 0x4 Flamengo - First leg - CONMEBOL Libertadores Semifinal

Location: José Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Date and time: 31/08/2022, at 21:30 pm

Referees: Wilmar Roldan (COL), Alexander Guzman (COL), Wilmar Navarro (COL) and Jhon Ospina (COL)

Yellow cards: Gabi (FLA), Valentín Gómez (VEL), Thiago Maia (FLA), De los Santos (VEL), David Luiz (FLA), Léo Pereira (FLA), Erick Pulgar (FLA)

Goals: Pedro (31' - 1st half; 15' - 2nd half; ), Everton Ribeiro (45' - 1st half),