This time, it didn't work out. After ten games, Flamengo saw its streak against Botafogo fall on Wednesday night at the Maracanã. With goals from Marcelo Cordeiro and Caio, the black and whites turned the tables on the Gávea team, which opened the scoring with Vinícius Pacheco in the first half, and secured a spot in the Taça Guanabara final against Vasco next Sunday. Flamengo, meanwhile, turns its attention to the Copa Libertadores. The debut is on the 24th.

The first half was marked by the traditional balance of recent years. Flamengo dominated for a few minutes. Then, it was Botafogo's turn. And each team made the most of their moments. The red-and-blacks opened the scoring in the 24th minute, with a goal from young Vinícius Pacheco. The number 22 capped another strong performance by playing a one-two with Vagner Love and tapping it past Jefferson to make it 1-0.

Red and black confetti and streamers filled the Maracanã stadium, but only briefly. Flamengo's momentum stalled, their defense slammed into the samba, and Botafogo, who had no problem with it, equalized. In the 33rd minute, Lucio Flavio sent a ball into the box, Abreu headed it to Herrera, who fired a powerful shot. Bruno rebounded, and Marcelo Cordeiro made no mistake: 1-1. The result buoyed the black and whites, who managed to score again, but Loco Abreu used his hand and was cautioned.

Before halftime, a controversial incident caught everyone's attention. Referee Luiz Antônio Silva Santos gave midfielder Fahel a second yellow card, which would have led to his dismissal. However, Botafogo fans convinced the referee that the foul had been committed by Fabio Ferreira, who wasn't even involved in the incident, and the referee reversed his decision, withdrawing Fahel's red card and cautioning Ferreira.

The second half, however, began much the same way as the first: with Flamengo pressing forward. With the drums at a fast pace, the Flamengo samba dancers sambaed—and sambaed profusely, tormenting the black-and-white defense. Only Vagner Love, in one play, had three chances to score: a shot deflected off the defense, a header that hit the crossbar, and a rebound off the shin, but none of them went in.

And, as the saying goes, those who don't score, concede: in another aerial play, Herrera simply passed the ball to Caio, who had just come on, who tapped it into the back of the net and turned the game around in the 38th minute of the second half. This time, "Daddy Joel" pulled off a number of mishaps in the black and white jersey, eliminating his former club. On Sunday, the Guanabara Cup final will be a black and white affair: Botafogo and Vasco will decide the first round of the state championship.