Twenty-one times Flamengo. The most successful team in the Taça Guanabara extended its lead over the rest by winning the title this Sunday in Espírito Santo, undefeated. It wasn't an easy victory. Boavista was a formidable opponent and made the victory even more valuable. But there was no way around it. With goals in the second half, Flamengo took the lead and took a victory lap at the end. Kadu (own goal) and Vinicius Junior scored the match's goals in the 19th and 32nd minutes.

The favorite, with more tradition, (much) more fans, and greater technical quality, made sense in the end. With this result, Flamengo is now in the final four of the State Championship. If they win the Rio Cup, they'll qualify directly for the final.

The unbeaten campaign featured four wins and one draw in the group stage, conceding no goals. Thirteen points secured them sole leadership of Group B. In the semifinal stage, a 3-1 victory in the derby against Botafogo qualified for the final. The Taça Rio kicks off next Wednesday against Madureira at Nilton Santos Stadium at 19:30 pm. 

Coach Paulo César Carpegiani fielded his full strength squad. The only absence, compared to previous games, was Juan. Réver and Rhodolfo formed the defense, with Pará and Renê on the wings, Cuéllar, Paquetá, Diego, and Everton Ribeiro in the middle, and Everton and Henrique Dourado up front. 

The first half was exciting, but Flamengo had few clear-cut chances. In fact, Boavista started the better, with two early attacks that alarmed goalkeeper César. Flamengo only responded in the 16th minute, with Dourado shooting dangerously wide. 

After the timeout, Flamengo improved. In the 26th minute, Diego took a well-placed free kick from the edge of the box, and goalkeeper Rafael performed a miracle. Everton Ribeiro then took a shot from outside the area, but the ball went wide. Three minutes later, Diego had another great chance. The number 10 grabbed a rebound from the edge of the box. Boavista's goalkeeper was already out of the play, but Kadu saved the team from Saquarema. And that was the end of the first 45 minutes. 

The second half brought a different Flamengo. Much more aggressive and determined to end the game without the need for penalties, Carpegiani's team went on the attack from the start. 

Just five minutes in, Dourado headed the ball wide from the six-yard box, and the scream of a goal lingered in his throat. In the eighth minute, Diego took another free kick, but Rafael made a good save. In the 17th minute, Carpegiani made a change and brought on Vinicius Junior for Lucas Paquetá, who was playing very well, but the team gained a new momentum. 

It worked, and two minutes later, the goal was shouted. Diego made an excellent play and crossed to Réver. The captain headed the ball into the box, but before the ball reached Vinicius Junior, who was running through the middle, Kadu got in the way and scored an own goal. 

The goal opened the game even further, and Flamengo had the upper hand. Their technical superiority was evident, and the second goal was only a matter of time. In the 32nd minute, Éverton Ribeiro crossed for Vinicius Junior, who was free, to finish and score the title-winning goal, his first for the first team and with the Sacred Mantle. 

The team still had chances to improve, but Boavista was no longer offering any resistance. The title was secured, the trophy was rightly ordered, and Flamengo completed its first lap of honor in 2018.