Flamengo took to the field this Saturday (26) and beat Juventude 4-2 at Maracanã, in a match valid for the 31st round of the Brasileirão. Michael, Arrascaeta, Gabi and Plata scored the red-black goals. With the result, Mais Querido totaled 54 points and remains alive in the fight for the title.  

The game
Flamengo started the match completely dominating the midfield, exchanging passes in the attacking half. Meanwhile, Juventude adopted a defensive posture, waiting for the red-and-black team to launch a counterattack.

In the seventh minute, Mengão opened the scoring at Maraca! After pressure on Juventude's attack, Erick Pulgar stole the ball, and the ball fell to Gabi, who quickly passed it to Arrascaeta. The Uruguayan fired a powerful shot that Gabriel saved. On the rebound, Michael cleared the marker and slotted it past the goalkeeper to make it 1-0. It was the striker's 25th goal wearing the Sacred Mantle.

Juventude reacted a few minutes later and leveled the score in the 24th minute. After a counter-attack, João Lucas passed to Gilberto, who beat him in speed, burst into the box, and fired a powerful shot past Rossi to make it 1-1.

After the ball went out, Rubro-Negro nearly regained the lead. Gabi found a good pass to Michael on the left wing, who controlled it and shot firmly, but the goalkeeper saved it. In the 36th minute, Léo Pereira delivered a great pass behind the defense, Gabi controlled it, already shooting, and forced a good save from the goalkeeper.

Two minutes later, Gabi found the net, but the assistant referee had already raised the flag for offside. Flamengo continued to create chances on the attacking side of the pitch. In the 40th minute, Wesley advanced down the right and sent a low cross, but Danilo Boza cleared it, and the ball nearly went in.

In stoppage time, Gerson controlled the ball just outside the box and fired a shot with his left foot. The ball hit the post. The first half ended tied, but it's worth noting that Flamengo had a clear advantage, creating opportunities to take the lead.

In the first minute of the second half, Mengão was awarded a penalty. Gerson was brought down inside the box by Mandaca, and the referee immediately signaled the foul. Gabi stepped up to take the penalty, displaced the goalkeeper, and scored the second goal for the red-and-black team: 2-1. The number 99 ended a long drought without finding the net.

Mengão capitalized on the fans' momentum to score their third goal shortly after. Michael received a pass behind the defense, passed to Gerson on the right side of the box, and the number 8 laid it off for Arrascaeta to fire home, giving the goalkeeper no chance: 3-1.

Looking for another goal, at the behest of the nation, the Red-Blacks remained on the attack and had a great opportunity in the 15th minute. Arrascaeta took a free kick from the right edge of the box, the ball went straight and hit the crossbar. In the 19th minute, Arrascaeta found a good pass to Gerson on the right side of the box, who controlled it and shot with his left foot, forcing another good save from the goalkeeper.

Juventude pulled one back in the 24th minute. After a free kick inside the box, the red-and-black defense partially cleared it, Edson Carioca got the rebound and unleashed a powerful shot. The ball went straight to Rossi, who was unable to prevent the goal: 3-2.  

The Gaucho team was down to ten men in the 29th minute when Nenê, who had just come on, received his first yellow card for complaining about a foul. He continued to complain and received a second, being sent off.

In the final minutes, the red-and-black team managed their lead and still had time to score the fourth! Gerson received the ball wide on the right, pulled it into the middle, and simply passed it to Plata, who controlled it and shot it into the goalkeeper's corner to seal the game, scoring his first goal with the Sacred Mantle.

Week's agenda
Mais Querido returns to the field next Wednesday (30) to face Internacional, at 19 pm, at Beira Rio, in a delayed game of the 17th round of the Brasileirão.

Flamengo
Rossi; Wesley, Leo Ortiz, Leo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas; Erick Pulgar, Evertton Araújo and Arrascaeta; Gerson, Michael (Alcaraz) and Gabi (Gonzalo Plata).
Coach: Filipe Luís.

Juventude
Gabriel; João Lucas, Danilo Boza, Ze Marcos and Alan Rushel; Ronaldo, Luis Oyama (Davi Goes), Ewerthon (Marcelinho), Mandaca (Gabriel Taliari) and Edson Carioca (Erick); Gilberto (Nenê).
Coach: Jair Ventura.

Technical sheet
Flamengo 4x2 Juventude – 31th Round of the Brazilian Championship
Location: Maracanã, RJ
Date and time: 26/10/2024 at 16:30 am
Audience and income: 60.286 / R$ R$ 3.056.412,50
Arbitration: Braulio da Silva Machado (SC), Thiaggo Americano Labes (SC) and Gizeli Casaril (SC)
Yellow cards: Edson Carioca (JUV), João Lucas (JUV), Nenê (JUV), Davi Góes (JUV), Arrascaeta (FLA) and Alcaraz (FLA)
Red card: Nenê (JUV)
Goals: Michael (7'1st half), Gilberto (24'1st half), Gabi (3'2nd half), Arrascaeta (8'2nd half), Edson Carioca (24'2nd half) and Plata (49'2nd half).