Flamengo defeated Fortaleza 3-0 this Wednesday at Castelão Stadium, securing a spot in the quarterfinals of the Copa do Brasil. In the next round, the team from Gávea faces Internacional, who eliminated Náutico. Kleberson, Juan, and Emerson scored the goals for the Flamengo team.

The match began with both teams looking to attack, and Fortaleza had the first good chance. In the fifth minute, Marcelo Nicácio crossed, Luiz Carlos headed, and Bruno saved confidently. Flamengo responded with Kleberson, who took a chance from the edge of the box and nearly opened the scoring.

Flamengo struggled to penetrate the Ceará defense, and Fortaleza relied on long-range shots to score. In the 37th minute, Juan burst into the box from the left and dribbled past the defender, but the number 6's shot was weak. In the last dangerous play of the first half, Eusébio fired a shot from the edge of the box, but Bruno saved.

Flamengo came out pressing in the second half. Before the first minute, Emerson headed the ball into the box, and Douglas performed a miracle, saving Fortaleza. Two minutes in, Juan received a beautiful pass from Emerson and passed to Kleberson, who burst into the box and finished with style: 1-0 Flamengo.

In the ninth minute, Emerson took a shot from the right, and Douglas made a good save. Soon after, Eusébio took a shot from outside the box, and the ball went just wide of Bruno's right post. In the 13th minute, Ibson took a corner from the left, Welinton headed it, but Douglas sent it to the goal line.

In the 15th minute, midfielder Júlio made a nasty tackle on Juan and was sent off by referee Evandro Rogério Roman. In the 22nd minute, Juan made a beautiful play and was brought down by Bismark. The referee awarded a penalty. Juan took the penalty with skill, extending the lead for the Gávea team: 2-0 Flamengo. Four minutes later, Ibson took a corner from the left and nearly scored an Olympic goal.

In the 27th minute, Flamengo scored again. After a corner kick taken by Ibson, Emerson rose unmarked and headed home: 3-0 Flamengo. After the third goal, Flamengo played the ball and waited for the final whistle to celebrate a spot in the next round of the Copa do Brasil.

CREDITS:

FORTALEZA 0 X 3 FLAMENGO

Location: Castelão, Fortaleza (CE)\ Date/Time: 6/5/2009 - 21:50 pm (Brasília time)\ Referee: Evandro Rogério Roman (Fifa/PR)\ Assistants: Gilson Bento Coutinho (PR) and José Carlos Dias Passos (PR)\ Attendance/Income: 46.358 paying spectators / R$ 918.400,00\ Yellow Cards: Everton (FLA)\ Red Cards: Júlio, 15'/2nd half (FOR)\

GOAL: Kleberson, 1'/2nd half (0-1); Juan, 23'/2nd half (0-2), Emerson, 27'/2nd half (0-3).

Coach: Mirandinha.

FLAMENGO: Bruno, Aírton, Welinton, and Ronaldo Angelim; Léo Moura, Willians (Toró, 34'/2nd half), Kleberson, Ibson and Juan; Everton (Zé Roberto, 25'/2nd half) and Emerson (Obina, 29'/2nd half). Coach: Cuca.