Flamengo showed grit and determination, but couldn't avoid a 2-1 defeat to Internacional at the Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre. With the result, the red-and-black team is eliminated from the Copa do Brasil. Flamengo had a spot in the semifinals in their hands until the 43th minute of the second half, but Andrezinho's free kick secured the spot for Internacional.

Flamengo adopted an attacking stance from the opening minutes and had the first significant chance of the match through Kleberson. The number 15 took advantage of a misplaced pass from Kléber, advanced, and fired a low shot to the left of Lauro's goal. Inter responded with an individual play from Nilmar, but Bruno was on top of his game and saved the red-and-blacks.

The match was fiercely contested in midfield, and chances were rare. Flamengo struggled to score, and Inter struggled against the tight marking of the Gávea team, which always had one man more than the opponent's dangerous attacking trio. In the 37th minute, Kleberson played a one-two with Ibson and found himself face-to-face with Lauro's goal, but the five-time champion's shot went wide.

In the 42nd minute of the first half, Juan had the ball under control, but he made a mistake when he dropped it back to the defense. Nilmar took advantage of the number 6's mistake and passed it to Taison, who slotted it past Bruno: 1-0 Inter.

With the score down, Flamengo returned for the second half looking to score their first goal. In the fourth minute, Ibson had the red-and-blacks' first good chance of the second half. In the eighth minute, Taison fired a straight shot toward the box, shot, but missed the target. Rosinei, shortly after, fired a cross-shot, scaring Bruno.

In the 29th minute, Emerson, who had come on for Zé Roberto, received a beautiful pass from Kleberson and finished for the goal: 1-1 at Beira-Rio. However, Emerson suffered a recurrence of a left knee injury and had to leave the field. Defender Welinton came on in his place.

In the 43rd minute, Alecsandro was fouled by Ibson at the edge of the box. Andrezinho converted the ball well and scored for Internacional, securing the team's place in the final.

CREDITS:

INTERNACIONAL 2 X 1 FLAMENGO\ Stadium: Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre (RS)\ Date/Time: 20/05/2009 - 21:50 p.m. (Brasília time)\ Referee: Paulo César Oliveira (Fifa-SP)\ Assistants: Emerson Augusto de Carvalho (Fifa-SP) and Vicente Romano Neto (SP)\ Revenue/Attendance: R$ 641.850,00 / 47.738 present\ Yellow Cards: Guiñazu, Rosinei and Sandro (INT); Aírton, Toró, Willians and Bruno (FLA)\ Red Cards: None\ GOALS: Taison, 42'/1st half (1-0); Emerson, 28'/2nd half (1-1); Andrezinho, 43'/2nd half (2-1) \ I\

INTERNATIONAL: Lauro, Danilo Silva (Alecsandro, 32'/2nd half), Índio, Álvaro and Kléber; Sandro (Andrezinho, 41'/2nd half), Guiñazu, Rosinei (Glaydson, 26'/2nd half) and D'Alessandro; Nilmar and Taison. Coach: Tite.

FLAMENGO: Bruno, Willians, Aírton and Ronaldo Angelim; Leonardo Moura, Toró (Everton Silva, 20'/2nd half), Kleberson, Ibson and Juan; Ze Roberto (Emerson, 16'/2nd half) (Welinton, 33'/2nd half) and Obina. Coach: Cuca.