In the first game of the Cariocão finals, Flamengo lost to Fluminense 2-0 on Wednesday night (30), at Maracanã. With the result, the red-black team will have to win the second game by three goals. If they win by two, the decision will go to penalties.

The game
Flamengo started the match with great intensity, dominating the attacking half. The red-and-black team didn't let Fluminense breathe and pressured the Tricolor's ball out. In the eighth minute, Flamengo created a threat for the first time. Gabi received the ball on the right and sent a low shot into the box. The ball would have reached Vitinho, but Manoel arrived in time to clear it.

The derby was quite choppy at the start, with numerous stoppages for fouls. In the 26th minute, Everton Ribeiro took a corner from the right, and Fabrício Bruno headed dangerously to the right of goalkeeper Fábio. David Luiz then took a free kick from the edge of the box, but the ball went just wide of the post.

Rubro-Negro continued to pressure Fluminense and create the best chances. In the 32nd minute, after a corner kick, David Luiz headed the ball, and Fábio made a great save. In a lively first half, the teams went into the break with the score tied at zero.

In the second half, the game remained tight in midfield, with intense competition for possession. In the 12th minute, Flamengo narrowly missed scoring their first goal. Arrascaeta, on his first play, sped to the byline and crossed into the box. The ball fell to Pedro, who unleashed a powerful shot that was brilliantly saved by Fábio. Gabigol fired the rebound, but the defense cleared it for a corner.

With the majority of possession, the red-and-black team consistently attacked. In the 30th minute, Martinelli lost the ball in the defensive half, and Arrascaeta sped down the left, burst into the box, and struck hard. Fábio made the save.

At 37', Fluminense opened the scoring with Cano, after an individual error by the red-black defense: 0-1. Two minutes later, the tricolor team scored the second again with Cano: 0-2. Flamengo tried to reduce the advantage, but ended up being defeated in the first game of the decision.

Next appointment
Rubro-Negro returns to the field next Saturday (2) to face Fluminense again, at 18 pm, at Maracanã. The confrontation will decide the title of the Campeonato Carioca.

Technical sheet
Flamengo 0x2 Fluminense – Game 1 of the Carioca Championship Final
Location: Maracanã, RJ
Date and time: 30/03/2022 at 21:40 pm
Referee: Wagner do Nascimento Magalhães
Assistants: Luiz Claudio Regazone and Thiago Rosa de Oliveira
Yellow cards: Felipe Melo (FLU), Marinho (FLA), Vitinho (FLA), João Gomes (FLA), Everton Ribeiro (FLA), David Luiz (FLA), Cristiano (FLU), Ganso (FLU), Arias (FLU) and Martinelli (FLU)
Goals: Cano (37'2nd half and 39'2nd half).

Flamengo lineup
Hugo; Matheuzinho (Lazarus), Fabricio Bruno (Leo Pereira), David Luiz and Filipe Luis; Willian Arão, João Gomes, Everton Ribeiro (Arrascaeta) and Vitinho (Bruno Henrique); Marinho (Pedro) and Gabi.
Coach: Paulo Sousa.

Flu lineup
Fabio; Calegari, Manoel, Felipe Melo (Luccas Claro), David Braz and Cristiano; André, Yago Felipe and Ganso (Martinelli); Willian (Arias) and Cano.
Coach: Abel Braga.