Heading to the semifinals! In the second leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals, Flamengo thrashed Olimpia 5-1 on Wednesday night (18) at Mané Garrincha. Flamengo's goals were scored by Gabi (twice), Bruno Henrique, Willian Arão, and Salcedo (own goal). Guaranteed a spot in the semifinals for the fifth time in history, Flamengo awaits the decision of its opponent, who will emerge from the match between Barcelona de Guayaquil and Fluminense. This was the second match with fans in attendance at the stadium since the start of the pandemic. With great organization, safety measures, and compliance with all health protocols, the Flamengo Nation threw a beautiful party and enthusiastically celebrated their qualification for the next stage of the competition.

The game
Flamengo started the match with its hallmark: valuing possession. Olimpia, needing to score goals to try to reverse the previous game's scoreline, pushed forward more. This gave the Paraguayan team space for the Mais Querido to counterattack.

In the 29th minute, Mengão opened the scoring! Everton Ribeiro delivered a beautiful pass to Rodinei on the right, who took it to the byline and crossed low for Gabi, the Libertadores' top scorer, to tap it into the net: 1-0.

It didn't take long for Rubro-Negro to extend their lead in the 35th minute. After a steal in attack, Everton Ribeiro, inside the box, passed to Arrascaeta. The Uruguayan crossed to the far post for Bruno Henrique to head home powerfully: 2-0. Olimpia pulled one back with Recalde's goal before halftime: 2-1.

Early in the second half, Mais Querido scored the third! Arrascaeta took a free kick into the box, Léo Pereira managed to deflect it, but the ball remained live in the six-yard box and Arão could only tap it into the empty net: 3-1.

Flamengo was insatiable and hungry for goals! In the 10th minute, Arrascaeta took a corner kick. The ball was headed toward Léo Pereira, but Salcedo got there first, got in a mess, and pushed it into his own net: 4-1.

Even with the large lead, the red-and-black team didn't slow down and gained new momentum with the five substitutions made by Renato Gaúcho (Michael, Vitinho, Pedro, Ramon and Matheuzinho). Top scorer Gabigol also scored his second goal of the match and Mengão's fifth in the 31st minute. Diego, wide on the left wing, crossed perfectly for the red-and-black number nine to head with skill into the right corner of Aguilar's net: 5-1.

A key player in both matches, which ended 9-2 on aggregate, Gabi led another rout for the red-and-blacks and was named the best player of the match by CONMEBOL. With qualification for the Libertadores semifinals, the Red-and-Blacks have reached this stage of the competition for the fifth time in their history.

Next appointment
Rubro-Negro returns to the field next Sunday (22) to face Ceará, at 16 pm, at Castelão. The game is valid for the 17th round of the Brasileirão.

Flamengo lineup
Diego Alves; Rodinei (Matheuzinho), Bruno Viana, Leo Pereira and Filipe Luis (Ramon); Willian Arão, Diego, Everton Ribeiro (Pedro) and Arrascaeta (Michael); Bruno Henrique (Vitinho) and Gabi.
Coach: Renato Gaucho.

Olimpia lineup
Aguilar; Otalvaro, Salcedo, Mateo Gamarra and Ivan Torres; Ortiz (Santacruz), Ojeda, Derlis González (Fernando Cardozo) and Ramón Sosa (Quintana); Recalde (Camacho) and Roque Santa Cruz (Walter González).
Coach: Enrique Landaida.

Technical sheet
Flamengo 5x1 Olimpia – Second leg of the Copa Libertadores Quarterfinals
Location: Mané Garrincha Stadium, Brasília-DF
Date: 18 / 08 / 2021
Attendance: 11.211 fans
Referee: Jesus Valenzuela (VEN)
Assistants: Tulio Moreno (VEN) and Lubin Torrealba (VEN)
Yellow cards: Ramón Sosa (OLI), Ojeda (OLI), Vitinho (FLA), Otálvaro (OLI) and Mateo Gamarra (OLI)
Goals: Gabi (29'1st half and 31'2nd half), Bruno Henrique (35'1st half), Recalde (44'1st half), Willian Arão (3'2nd half), Salcedo (own goal at 10'2nd half).