Thiago Barros and Eduardo Vieira

Sports Journal

Rio de Janeiro - When Flamengo reached the semifinals of the 2008 State Futsal Championship against Teresópolis, almost no one believed they would win. They did, and they reached the final against Cabo Frio. Once again, few gave in. "The team from the Lakes Region is professional, the favorite, and will take the title" was the prediction before the final. But they believed. Only they did: the athletes and the ever-passionate Nação Rubro-Negra (Red-Black Nation). And together, they needed nothing else. After doing their homework and beating Cabo Frio in Rio de Janeiro, Mengão went looking for the title in the Lakes Region. Cheered on by the fans and with goals from Silva, Leco, and Sixel, Flamengo defeated their rivals away from home on Friday night 3-2 (1-2 in regulation and 2-0 in overtime), and earned the title of best futsal team in Rio de Janeiro for the second time in its history. TensãoTo achieve this, coach Cid Escarlate's team had to sweat blood on the court, because the final was a true test for heart rate. The first goal of the game only came with 30 seconds remaining in the first half, and it was scored by Cabo Frio, who went into halftime with the lead. After returning from the locker room, the home team locked down on defense, trying to take the match to overtime. But with a minute and a half remaining, Flamengo equalized through Silva. The nation was already celebrating and tasting the title, which had been so close but became even more distant exactly 45 seconds later, when the Cabo Frio team scored again and retook the lead: 2-1. The result only prolonged the home team's hopes and the red-and-black team's suffering. But, in the end, it was Mengão who celebrated. Just joyCabo Frio's victory in regulation sent the game into overtime. In extra time, it was all Flamengo. Leco took advantage of a blunder by the opposing defense to tie the match: 2-2, a result that already gave the title to the Mais Querido. However, there was still one more to go. Top scorer Sixel appeared in the final minute of the duel to make it 3-2 to Flamengo, galvanizing the fans at the Cabo Frio Gymnasium and sealing the fate of the 2008 State Championship trophy: the Clube de Regatas do Flamengo trophy room. If it's a decision, Sixel has a goalA true goalscorer, always present at the right time and decisive when necessary. This is Rafael Sixel, center for Flamengo's futsal team, who scored the decisive goal in this year's State Championship final on Friday against Cabo Frio. In the last minute of extra time, the home team needed a goal to take the title, but it was Sixel who made his mark. Humble, the forward rejects the hero label and praises the strength of the group that overcame difficult times and won a historic title for Mengão. "Thank God I was able to show up and score the goal that gave us the title, but I think the whole group deserves congratulations. We proved we weren't underdogs, as many believed. We faced very strong opponents, including in the semifinal against Teresópolis. Many thought we would fall by the wayside, but we showed we're also strong and achieved this victory," says the center.