The team needed to win 4-0 to advance to the second phase of the Mercosul Cup

When times are tough, any positive memory counts. And Flamengo's situation in the 1999 Mercosul Cup is somewhat similar to the club's experience in this Copa Libertadores. That year, the red-and-black team also needed to win by four goals at the Maracanã stadium to advance. Won 7-0!

Mengão entered the final round of qualifying in third place in Group E, with seven points and a goal difference of one. They needed to crush the eliminated Universidad Católica to overcome Boca Juniors and Corinthians, whose goal difference was five, and advance as one of the best second-place teams.

Without much responsibility, since the spot was considered almost a utopian prospect, Flamengo built the lead they needed in just 35 minutes. Caio opened the scoring, and Romário scored three times. Then, Baixinho added another. Marco Antônio and Rodrigo Mendes completed the massacre.\ The (unlikely) qualification boosted Flamengo's morale, and the team defeated Independiente, Peñarol, and Palmeiras to clinch the title. So, let's learn the lesson for the match against Defensor next Wednesday at Maracanã.\