A hard-fought 4-1 victory. As contradictory as it may seem, this is the best way to describe Flamengo's rout of Figueirense on Wednesday night at Maracanã in the Brazilian Championship. The result lifted the team out of the relegation zone.

Carlinhos, against, in the first half, Obina, Paulo Sérgio and Ibson, in the second half, scored the goals for Flamengo. In the next round, Flamengo will travel to Porto Alegre on Saturday to face Internacional.

The team was without suspended Fábio Luciano, Juan, and Souza, as well as injured Maxi and Ronaldo Angelim, and fielded six players from the youth academy: Rodrigo Arroz, Thiago Salles, Egídio, Rômulo, Ibson, and Renato Augusto. In the second half, Paulo Sérgio, another homegrown player, also entered the field.

The game started evenly, and Flamengo, despite taking the initiative, ran into the Santa Catarina team's well-organized defense. So much so that the first two scares for the opposing defense came from mid-range shots by left-back Egídio, who filled in well for the suspended starter Juan. On both attempts, in the 20th and 24th minutes, goalkeeper Wilson had difficulty keeping them out.

The opening goal ended up coming from Egpidio's feet. The full-back took a free kick in the 27th minute, and Carlinhos challenged Thiago Salles and ended up sending the ball into his own net.

The lead boosted Flamengo, who still had chances to extend their lead with Obina and Rômulo. They failed to score and were ultimately punished in the 47th minute: André Santos headed in a cross from the right to level the score.

The opening minutes of the second half gave a clear sense of how much the equalizer had shaken Flamengo. Nervous, the team gave their opponent space and even came under pressure. Striker Léo, twice, and Jean Carlos, in the first five minutes alone, could have turned the game around.

They didn't turn it around, and Flamengo gradually regained control of the match. Just as the team was showing signs of wearing off after conceding the equalizer late in the first half, Obina was pulled down in the box. The striker himself took the penalty and converted it in the 17th minute.

Once again ahead, Flamengo calmed down, and with Figueirense showing no signs of returning to the pressure they had at the start of the first half, the game's pace slowed. The tight score, however, wasn't enough to bring anyone to a sigh of relief.

Relief did indeed come in the 41st minute. Paulo Sérgio, who had replaced Obina, initiated the play in the middle, passed to Cristian, and Cristian, already in the box, calmly passed to Ibson, who scored the breakthrough goal: 3-1. With the victory finally sealed, Paulo Sérgio himself extended the lead in the 43rd minute, with a shot that deflected off the defense and over goalkeeper Wilson.

FLAMENGO 4 X 1 FIGUEIRENSE

Location: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)\ Referee: Rodrigo Martins Cintra (SP)\ Assistants: Emerson Augusto de Carvalho (SP) and Márcio Luiz Augusto (SP)\ Revenue / attendance: R$ 145.872,00 / 11.263 paying spectators (15.800 present)\ Yellow cards: Cristian, Renato Augusto, Egídio (FLA); Asprilla, Otacílio Neto, Felipe Santana (FIG)\ Goals: Carlinhos, in the 27th minute, and André Santos, in the 47th minute of the first half; Obina, in the 17th minute, Ibson, in the 41st minute, and Paulo Sérgio, in the 43rd minute of the second half.\

FLAMENGO\ Bruno, Leo Moura, Rodrigo Arroz, Thiago Sales and Egidio; Romulo, Cristian, Ibson and Renato Augusto (Leo Medeiros); Obina (Paulo Sérgio) and Leonardo (Toró).\ Coach: Joel Santana\

FIGUEIRENSE\ Wilson, Ruy, Diogo, Felipe Santana and André; Asprilla, Carlinhos (Fernandes), Cleiton Xavier and Peter (Leo); Otacílio Neto (Alexandre) and Jean Carlos.\ Coach: Mário Sérgio.\