Flamengo fights until the end, beats Ponte and remains second in the Brasileirão
Gabriel and Fernandinho score for Mengão, which reached 43 points
By Ricardo Taves - in
Breathe, Red-Black Nation! If you need to, breathe again. Now, forget the analysis, the expert commentary, and everything you'll read and hear in the coming days. Flamengo beat Ponte Preta 2-1 at the Kleber Andrade Stadium, above all, with heart.
Mengão remains second in the Brasileirão. It remains in contention for the title. And in campaigns like this, there are different types of games, and regardless of the position the Mais Querido occupies at the end of the 38 rounds, the night of September 7, 2016, will always be remembered for the dedication, determination, and relentless pursuit of victory of the red-and-black team.
From the opening whistle, Ponte Preta demonstrated that they would be a formidable opponent. Even so, in the first 15 minutes, Flamengo dominated the game. Pressing, they created chances, gained space, and found their own opportunities. In the 13th minute, Éverton took a corner kick. Réver headed it in, Leandro Damião deflected it, and Aranha made a great save. On the rebound, Gabriel headed the ball in, and despite the goalkeeper's deflection, he put the ball in the back of the net. Mengão 1-0.
From then on, Ponte Preta grew into the match, closing in on the defense, and making Flamengo extremely difficult. Diego was hunted down on the field. The opponent created chances, threatened Alex Muralha, and the fans' adrenaline pumped.
Mengão fought back. In the 23rd minute, Éverton tested and nearly scored after a great pass from Gabriel. Ten minutes later, Aranha made a mistake and Éverton, once again, nearly scored. The partial advantage was indeed Rubro-Negro at the final whistle of the first half.
In the second half, the game became even tougher. Gabriel suffered a minor injury in the locker room and was replaced by Marcelo Cirino. Two minutes in, the number 7 tried a mid-range shot, but the ball went wide.
Flamengo couldn't find any space. Pará, on the right, tried to find Leandro Damião in the box. The São Paulo defense was relentless in their marking. It was on a Flamengo attempt that Aranha made a save, quickly replaced the ball, and found William Pottker. The striker surged up the left flank, struck a powerful cross, and equalized, leaving Alex Muralha with no chance.
The tension mounted. It reached its peak when Diego unleashed a powerful free kick, forcing Aranha to make a great save. In these moments, the clock seemed to tick faster. 32, 33, 34...
But while the game is on, Flamengo will fight. Persistence, persistence, resilience. Grit, heart, and plenty of stamina. The ball entered Ponte's box, the defense cleared, Diego attempted a bicycle kick, and on the rebound, Fernandinho appeared to score the red-and-black's second goal.
Kleber Andrade burst with joy. Neighbors across Brazil surely heard the screams of the millions of Flamengo fans spread across the country. Their hearts, which had been tight during the game, especially in the second half, now beat with joy and relief.
With the victory, Mengão reached 43 points, three behind leaders Palmeiras. The Mais Querido's next match will be against Vitória on Saturday, at 18:30 PM, at Barradão. It's time to prepare your heart once again.
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From the opening whistle, Ponte Preta demonstrated that they would be a formidable opponent. Even so, in the first 15 minutes, Flamengo dominated the game. Pressing, they created chances, gained space, and found their own opportunities. In the 13th minute, Éverton took a corner kick. Réver headed it in, Leandro Damião deflected it, and Aranha made a great save. On the rebound, Gabriel headed the ball in, and despite the goalkeeper's deflection, he put the ball in the back of the net. Mengão 1-0.
From then on, Ponte Preta grew into the match, closing in on the defense, and making Flamengo extremely difficult. Diego was hunted down on the field. The opponent created chances, threatened Alex Muralha, and the fans' adrenaline pumped.
Mengão fought back. In the 23rd minute, Éverton tested and nearly scored after a great pass from Gabriel. Ten minutes later, Aranha made a mistake and Éverton, once again, nearly scored. The partial advantage was indeed Rubro-Negro at the final whistle of the first half.
In the second half, the game became even tougher. Gabriel suffered a minor injury in the locker room and was replaced by Marcelo Cirino. Two minutes in, the number 7 tried a mid-range shot, but the ball went wide.
Flamengo couldn't find any space. Pará, on the right, tried to find Leandro Damião in the box. The São Paulo defense was relentless in their marking. It was on a Flamengo attempt that Aranha made a save, quickly replaced the ball, and found William Pottker. The striker surged up the left flank, struck a powerful cross, and equalized, leaving Alex Muralha with no chance.
The tension mounted. It reached its peak when Diego unleashed a powerful free kick, forcing Aranha to make a great save. In these moments, the clock seemed to tick faster. 32, 33, 34...
But while the game is on, Flamengo will fight. Persistence, persistence, resilience. Grit, heart, and plenty of stamina. The ball entered Ponte's box, the defense cleared, Diego attempted a bicycle kick, and on the rebound, Fernandinho appeared to score the red-and-black's second goal.
Kleber Andrade burst with joy. Neighbors across Brazil surely heard the screams of the millions of Flamengo fans spread across the country. Their hearts, which had been tight during the game, especially in the second half, now beat with joy and relief.
With the victory, Mengão reached 43 points, three behind leaders Palmeiras. The Mais Querido's next match will be against Vitória on Saturday, at 18:30 PM, at Barradão. It's time to prepare your heart once again.