In a reunion with the fans, Flamengo beats Bangu at Maracanã, in the debut of the State Championship
Diego and Rhodolfo score for Mengão on an afternoon with more than 46 thousand fans
By Flamengo Communication - in
A debut in scorching heat and with 46 fans on a truly red-and-black Sunday afternoon. Maracanã opened its doors to welcome the 2019 Flamengo team in the team's State Championship debut against Bangu and witnessed a victory with authority and confidence from a team that controlled and held the opponent for 90 minutes. Bangu took the lead, but Diego and Rhodolfo turned the game around and secured the three points.
The crowd was a highlight in itself. More than 46 fans, a record for the opening of the competition that had stood since 2009. It shows how much the fans missed the team and promises a very strong unity for the season that begins. In the next challenge, Flamengo will face Resende, on Wednesday (23), at 19 pm, in Volta Redonda.
The game
The first half didn't start well. Three minutes in, Bangu opened the scoring with a throw-in from the right, which Anderson Lessa got ahead of the defense and headed wide, leaving Diego Alves unable to save.
Flamengo ignored the goal and pressed forward, cornering Bangu in their own half. It took less than 10 minutes for the ball to go in. Renê challenged for the ball in the box and crossed to Diego, who fired a low shot. Goalkeeper Jefferson Paulino saved, and the ball ended up hitting Felipe Dias' arm, preventing a goal. But the referee awarded a penalty. Diego took the penalty with skill, displacing the opposing goalkeeper, and equalized.
The penalty resulted in Fellipe Dias's red card, and Flamengo, already in control of the game, began to dominate the space, with the opposing team barely making it past the halfway line. Chances to extend their lead were becoming more frequent. In the 20th minute, Diego headed a powerful shot that Jefferson saved. Five minutes later, another good play. Vitinho made a mad dash down the left and passed to Diego. The number 10 set up Arão, but the shot went over the goal.
Flamengo came back stronger in the second half. Less than a minute into the second half, Vitinho missed two clear chances. But in the eighth minute, there was no way out. Everton Ribeiro took a corner, and Rhodolfo headed in to turn the game around and set the Maracanã on fire. Two minutes later, a great play by Vitinho and a great one by Jefferson prevented the third.
Flamengo was the only team to win. In the 14th minute, Pará fired a powerful shot, the ball deflected off the defense and flew over the goalkeeper, hitting the crossbar. In the 18th minute, another penalty was awarded, but this time, Jefferson saved Diego's shot.
Abel Braga made changes to his lineup, bringing in Thiago Santos and Vitor Gabriel for Vitinho and Diego, respectively. Shortly after, Piris da Motta came on for Everton Ribeiro, but the game was already sealed. Bangu, down ten men, posed little threat, and Flamengo held the ball until the end, securing the victory at Maracanã.