On the debut night of coach Jorge Sampaoli, Flamengo played beautifully and beat the Ñublense (CHI) team 2-0 this Wednesday (19), at Maracanã, for the second round of the Libertadores. Mengão's goals were scored by Pedro (twice). With the result, Mengão won its first three points in Group A of the continental competition.

The game
The match began with Flamengo having absolute control of possession and exchanging quick passes in the attacking half. At six minutes, the first good attacking move from the red-and-black team occurred. Gerson received the ball in midfield and passed to Gabigol at the edge of the box. The number 10 made a dummy run, the ball fell to Pedro, who returned it to Gabigol to try and shoot, but his shot was smothered by the goalkeeper.

Superior throughout the match, Flamengo opened the scoring early, at 14 minutes. Marinho took a free kick into the area, Pedro anticipated the goalkeeper and sent the ball into the net: 1-0. After the goal, Flamengo continued to press and gave no opportunities to the opponent. At 22 minutes, Pedro recovered the ball, made a run towards the goal and unleashed a powerful shot, forcing goalkeeper Pérez to parry it for a corner.

When Flamengo went on the attack, they posed a threat to the opposing goal. In the 36th minute, the second Flamengo goal came naturally. And once again it was him! Thiago Maia recovered the ball in Ñublense's midfield, Marinho got it and quickly passed to Pedro. The number 9 beat his marker and shot across the goal into the corner, giving Pérez no chance: 2-0. The first half ended with a comfortable lead for Flamengo.

In the second half, the Flamengo team returned with the same attitude and maintained their attack. Just two minutes in, Marinho made a good play on the right, cut inside and crossed into the area. Gerson tried to head it on, but couldn't reach it.

Around the 20-minute mark, coach Sampaoli made changes to the team, bringing on Everton Ribeiro, Wesley, and Cebolinha in place of Marinho, Vidal, and Fabrício Bruno, respectively. This effectively broke up the three-man defense.

At 24 minutes, Gerson found Cebolinha open on the left side of the area, the striker cut inside and shot towards goal, but the ball went high and wide. Immediately afterwards, Wesley crossed into the area, Cebolinha's shot was blocked and Pedro managed to deflect it towards goal, but the Chilean defense cleared it for a corner.

In the final stretch, Flamengo even scored a third goal through Everton Ribeiro, but the referee disallowed it after reviewing the play with VAR. He ruled a foul by the number 7 on Provoste. The game ended at the Maracanã with a good performance from the red-and-black team, who now have three points in Group A of the Libertadores.

Next appointment
The Most Beloved returns to the field next Sunday (23) to face Internacional, at 11 am, at Beira Rio, for the second round of the Brasileirão.

Flamengo lineup
Santos; Fabrício Bruno (Cebolinha), David Luiz (Rodrigo Caio) and Léo Pereira; Ayrton Lucas, Vidal (Wesley), Thiago Maia, Gerson and Marinho (Everton Ribeiro); Gabi and Pedro (Matheus França).
Coach: Jorge Sampaoli.

Ñublense's starting lineup
Nicola Pérez; Rebolledo (Córdoba), Cerezo, Rafael Caroca, Zalazar and Campusano; Juan Leiva (Provost), Lorenzo Reyes and Rivera; Oyarzo (Jorge Henríquez) and Vilches (Valdés).
Coach: Jaime Garcia.

Technical sheet
Flamengo 2-0 Ñublense - 2nd Round of Group A of the Conmebol Libertadores
Location: Maracanã-RJ
Date and time: 19/04/2023 at 21:30 pm
Referees: Wilmar Roldán, Dionísio Ruiz and Alexander Guzmán.
Yellow cards: Zalazar (NUB) and Aránguiz (NUB)
Goals: Pedro (14'1st half and 36'1st half).