A dominant, creative, and commanding performance secured Flamengo a crucial victory on Saturday night (October 01st). Hosting RB Bragantino at Maracanã, the "Mais Querido" (the "Most Beloved") overcame their opponents and delivered a resounding 10-4 rout. Gabi opened the scoring in the first half; in the second, Pedro was the star of the show with a hat-trick. The scoreline ended an uncomfortable streak: the Rubro-Negro hadn't beaten Massa Bruta in five games.

With the result, Rubro-Negro reached 48 points and occupies fifth place in the Brazilian Championship table. The next match is against Internacional, on Wednesday (05/10), at 21:30 pm, at Maracanã. Tickets for the game are now on sale - come support Mais Querido!

The match began with excitement from the very beginning. Three minutes into the match, Gabi received a superb pass from De Arrascaeta, burst into the box, and was brought down. Besides the penalty, the referee also decided to send off Luan Cândido. The penalty kick, the number nine, hit the post. The performance wouldn't be marred by the error—quite the opposite. In the eleventh minute, Gabi burst into the box again after a beautiful pass from De Arrascaeta. This time, the Nation held up the flag: a goal.

The red-and-black pressure continued throughout the first half. The red-and-black squad demonstrated its prowess, creating plays both on the wings and in the middle of the box. Thiago Maia—who completed his 100th game with the Sacred Mantle—hit a beautiful backheel pass to Gabi in the 30th minute. The striker fired a well-placed shot from the edge of the box, but the defense managed to clear it. De Arrascaeta and Vidal sought the corner of the opposing goal, forcing Cleiton to make good saves. 

The Mais Querido defense was rarely used in the first half, which ended with Flamengo having 68% possession.

In the very first play of the second half, RB Bragantino equalized with a penalty kick. Helinho's goal, however, didn't change the outcome of the match. Flamengo continued to press and play with greater intensity—now with Everton Cebolinha replacing Thiago Maia.

In less than five minutes, Pedro showed what he does best: swinging the net.

The opposing goalkeeper even managed to delay the number 21's goal with a good header save in the fifth minute. In the 20th minute, however, he wouldn't let the ball slip away. Taking advantage of Gabi's cross, Pedro put Flamengo back in front—and it was just the beginning.

In the 24th minute, it was De Arrascaeta's turn to play waiter for Pedro. With a chest-first shot, the striker extended the red-and-blacks' lead. The score would be completed a minute later, when he took advantage of Ayrton Lucas's through ball, turned, and scored.

The final stretch of the match was filled with celebration in the stands, with few dangerous plays on the field. Dorival Junior took advantage of the final minutes of the game and brought on young players from the youth academy—Pedro, naturally, left the field to a roar of applause.

Technical sheet

Flamengo 4 x 1 RB Bragantino - Brazilian Championship 2022 - 29th round

Location: Maracanã

Date and time: 01/10/2022

Refereeing: Anderson Daronco (FIFA - RS), Rafael da Silva Alves (FIFA - RS), Michael Stanislau (RS) and João Ennio Sobral (RJ)

Yellow cards: De Arrascaeta (FLA)

Red cards: Luan Cândido (RBB)

Goals: Gabi (11'/1st half), Helinho (1'/2nd half), Pedro (20', 24', 25'/2nd half)

Flamengo lineup:

Santos; Rodinei (Varela), Fabrício Bruno, Pablo and Ayrton Lucas; Thiago Maia (Everton Cebolinha), Vidal, Everton Ribeiro (Matheus França) and De Arrascaeta (Victor Hugo); Pedro (Marinho) and Gabi.
Coach: Dorival Junior

Fortaleza lineup:

Cleito, Aderlan, Léo Ortiz, Natan and Luan Cândido; Raul (Praxedes), Lucas Evangelista and Hyoran (Andrés Hurtado) (Ramires); Artur, Carlos Eduardo (Jadsom Silva) and Helinho (Sorriso)

Coach: Mauricio Barbieri