Ninety minutes - plus added time - of intense competition and scoring chances for both sides. This is how the duel for the trophy of this edition of the Copa do Brasil began. In a lively match, Flamengo drew 0-0 with Corinthians on Wednesday night (12), at Neo Química Arena, in the first game of the national tournament finals.

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The winner of next Wednesday's match (19), at Maracanã, will be the champion; any draw will take the decision to penalties. With the yellow card received in this game, João Gomes, who was suspended, was suspended and is out of the final.

First time

Flamengo started the match by marking their opponent's ball out. In the first attacking move, Gabi brought the ball inside and unleashed a left-footed shot that sailed past goalkeeper Cássio's right post. The São Paulo team responded within minutes, with two lofted balls into the box, but the opponent was lacking in finishing. In the 11th minute, Everton Ribeiro and Pedro created a beautiful move: the captain passed a precise, through ball to the center forward, who was well-positioned on the left side of the six-yard box; face-to-face with Cássio, the number 21 tried to chip the ball past the goalkeeper, but the ball missed the target.

The first half saw Corinthians looking to press higher, but Flamengo remained undaunted and continued to press, largely dominating possession and forcing their opponents to retreat into their own half. On the few occasions they did appear on the attack, the São Paulo team didn't threaten Santos' goal, but neither could "Mais Querido" create any real scoring chances – until the 27th minute, when De Arrascaeta sent a powerful cross in search of Gabriel Barbosa, who couldn't reach it to tap it into the net at the far post. A clearer chance came soon after, in the 30th minute, during a strong run by Flamengo: João Gomes stole the ball from Fagner on the left wing, and Pedro took it, firing it in and passing it to Gabigol inside the box; the number 9 managed to get there, but Cássio got to the challenge and prevented the opening of the scoring.

With 10 minutes remaining before halftime, Corinthians surged offensively and also had a chance to open the scoring at a good moment in the match. In the 35th minute, Adson passed the ball to Yuri Alberto, who hit a cross that hit the Santos post. But the opponent's biggest opportunity came in the 41st minute, again with Yuri Alberto, who was blocked by Thiago Maia as he was about to shoot – nearly a goal for the red-and-black midfielder, who saved Flamengo in a moment of great clarity. Before the referee's whistle signaled the end of the first half, both teams had three long-range shots: Renato Augusto on one side and Gabigol and Thiago Maia on the other.

Second time

The Red-and-Blacks had a great chance in the first minute of the second half, after Gil fouled Pedro at the edge of the penalty area; De Arrascaeta's shot went over the bar, and the ball sailed over the crossbar. Upon returning from the locker room, coach Dorival Júnior called for a quicker passing game from his players—and the team responded with a fine move in the sixth minute. After a fine move, Pedro passed to João Gomes, who found Gabigol inside the box; the striker fired a powerful cross, but the ball deflected out for a corner. In another fine team move, in the 12th minute, Léo Pereira fed Everton Ribeiro, who headed the ball into the middle; Gabriel fired a first-time shot from close range, forcing Cássio to perform a miracle. The Black-and-Whites responded with Renato Augusto's superb shot from outside the box.

In the 20th minute, a wingless dove from David Luiz broke the hearts of the red-and-black fans, capriciously exploding against Cássio's crossbar, in what would have been a stunning goal to topple the owl. This was just the first of three clear-cut chances that followed in the red-and-black attack. In the 22nd minute, it was Everton Ribeiro's turn to force a strong shot from Cássio; then, Gabi received the ball from Pedro at the edge of the box and shot across goal, but the ball deflected off the marker and grazed the post.

In the 34th minute, Corinthians came close with Giuliano, who struck a powerful right-footed shot from the edge of the box, but Léo Pereira dove in front of the ball to protect Santos' goal with a game-winning move. Flamengo responded with a good shot from Pedro and a dangerous corner kick from Filipe Luís. The team grew stronger in the final minutes, until, in the 43rd minute, when the stadium's floodlights failed, forcing the match to be temporarily halted. David Luiz managed to head the ball into the net, but the effort was already worthless.

Once the ball was back in play, the match continued to heat up. Flamengo had another great chance with David Luiz, who scored from a corner kick. Corinthians, meanwhile, threatened with Fábio Santos just before the final whistle.

Speak, teacher!

In a press conference after the game, coach Dorival Júnior commented on the expectations for the title decision, next week.

"It's a classic in Brazilian football; they're two great teams. We got to where we are, Flamengo and Corinthians, not by chance. Honestly, there are no favorites. We have to play very carefully. Corinthians will naturally play a different type of game at Maracanã, but they will still be a strong and consistent team that has improved a lot. We'll have to play better, just like them, if we want to get a result. I hope it's an even better game than this first one," said the coach.

Next appointment

Flamengo returns to the field this Saturday (15), at 20:30 pm, for the 32nd round of the Brazilian Championship. The team receives Atlético-MG, at the Maracanã stadium, before the final of the Copa do Brasil, on Wednesday (19), at 21:45 pm, which will also be at Mário Filho.

Technical sheet

Corinthians 0x0 Flamengo - Final 1 - Copa do Brasil 2022

Location: Neo Química Arena, Itaquera, São Paulo-SP

Date and time: 12/10/2022, 21:45 p.m.

Refereeing: Braulio da Silva Machado (SC), Kleber Lucio Gil (SC), Guilherme Dias Camilo (MG), Jean Pierre Gonçalves Lima (RS)

Yellow cards: João Gomes (FLA), Yuri Alberto (COR)

Flamengo lineup:

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

Coach: Dorival Junior

Corinthians lineup:

Cassio; Fagner, Gil, Balbuena and Fabio Santos; Fausto Vera, Du Queiroz (Ramiro), Renato Augusto (Giuliano) and Adson (Gustavo Mosquito); Roger Guedes (Mateus Vital) and Yuri Alberto.

Coach: Victor Pereira