Flamengo's Brazilian Championship ended with a 0-0 draw against Atlético-PR at Arena da Baixada. The result moved them to third place in the standings with 71 points and will receive a R$7,3 million prize.
The Mais Querido (Most Beloved) concludes the Brazilian Championship with the best points record in its history, securing a spot in the Libertadores group stage with one round to spare. The draw for the brackets will be on December 21st.
#ForçaChape
Before the ball rolled, another moving tribute was paid to the victims of the plane crash that shook the world of soccer: athletes from both teams and journalists embraced amid the flags of Brazil, Colombia, and Chapecoense, with the stadium in absolute silence. Afterwards, the players formed another chain with the referees scheduled for the game. Flamengo and Atlético-PR played with the Chapecoense crest emblazoned on the front of their shirts.
The game
With the ball rolling, just five minutes in, after a beautiful cross from Pará, Éverton's header rattled Weverton's crossbar. A few minutes later, the opponent's first attempt was also a header, by André Lima, this time with a diving header, which Muralha saved with great reflexes. The match remained evenly matched, with both teams pushing for the goal back and forth, but the goalkeepers prevailed, and the referee blew the final whistle with the score still tied.
For the second half, Zé Ricardo brought Flamengo onto the field with one substitution: he took off Guerrero, who took a knock to his ankle in the first 45 minutes, and brought on Leandro Damião. The number 18 arrived with a winning touch, delivering a powerful shot from the edge of the box, defended by three men. Mancuello did the same when he came on for Márcio Araújo in the 31st minute, with a shot that forced Weverton to make a great fingertip save and clear for a corner. Next, another offensive substitution by Zé Ricardo, who took off Alan Patrick and brought on Felipe Vizeu. The Argentine midfielder was eventually sent off after receiving his second yellow card in the final minutes of the match. The Mais Querido failed to score, but relied on a great performance by Muralha to also keep a clean sheet.
End of season
Flamengo's football team goes on vacation this Monday (12) and returns on January 11, 2017. For Zé Ricardo, next week is a week of learning: the coach will participate in the course for coaches of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), at Granja Comary, from the 12th to the 18th.
End of season
Flamengo's football team goes on vacation this Monday (12) and returns on January 11, 2017. For Zé Ricardo, next week is a week of learning: the coach will participate in the course for coaches of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), at Granja Comary, from the 12th to the 18th.