Flamengo will fight to qualify for the semis with determination
Rubro-negro needs to win by two goals against Universidad de Chile, in the Libertadores
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
Friday, May 21, 0:15 a.m. In a packed Santa Laura stadium, Flamengo celebrates its unlikely, but not impossible, qualification to the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores da América. In the minds of Flamengo fans, this is the ideal outcome for the match between Flamengo and Universidad de Chile, a quarterfinal match of the competition. And to make the dream of more than 35 million fans come true, the team from Gávea promises a strong spirit and is banking on the talent of its attacking duo.
Coach Rogério Lourenço's team will have no shortage of desire, as they face La "U" at 22:15 pm (Brasília time) this Thursday (May 20.05). He himself promised that the team would be warriors in Santiago, and the players agree. Bruno tells Nação Rubro-Negra that the team is ready for the challenge and guarantees that Juan's goal at the end of the first leg at Maracanã will make the difference at the end of the 180 minutes.
"This match will be marked by commitment. It will be total dedication from the players, and the fans can be sure that Flamengo will give 100% to qualify. I'm also certain that Juan's goal will be remembered as the goal that qualified the team. But there's no point in just talking. We have to deliver on the field, and we know that," he assured.
In addition to his commitment, Bruno urges his teammates to be cautious defensively. Showing confidence in the Empire of Love, the goalkeeper believes Flamengo has a good chance of scoring two goals in Chile. The only thing left to do, therefore, is to avoid conceding any.
"We have to be careful defensively to avoid conceding goals, as Flamengo has a very strong attack. Adriano and Love can handle things up front," he noted.
This duo was mocked by the Chilean coach. Gerardo Pelusso stated that Vagner Love and Adriano are "fat" and won't be a threat in Santiago. For goalkeeper and captain Bruno, the provocations must be addressed on the field.
"I think their coach should respect the current Brazilian champion. Flamengo is a very big institution and at the end of the game we will see who is who," he added.
Flamengo is also battling history this Thursday. The team has yet to beat "La U," the only unbeaten team in the Libertadores. In three matches, they've lost two and drawn one. Furthermore, the team has never won in Chile in a tournament match, and the home team hasn't lost by two goals at home in a year. A 2-0 victory for Flamengo, for example, could mean all these statistics go down the drain soon, and that's what the players and fans are hoping for.
TECHNICAL SHEET
UNIVERSITY OF CHILE X FLAMENGO
Stadium: Santa Laura, Santiago (CHI)
Date/Time: 20/05/2010 - 22h15
Referee: Roberto Carlos Silvera (URU)
Auxiliaries: Miguel Ángel Nievas (URU) and Carlos Esteban Pastorino (URU)
UNIVERSITY OF CHILE: Miguel Pinto, Matías Rodríguez, Victorino, Olarra, Rojas; Seymour, Nelson Pinto, Fernández, Eduardo Vargas; Montillo and Olivera. Technical: Gerardo Peluso
FLAMENGO: Bruno; Léo Moura, David, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Toró, Willians, Kleberson and Michael; Vagner Love and Adriano. Technical: Rogerio Lourenço.
Coach Rogério Lourenço's team will have no shortage of desire, as they face La "U" at 22:15 pm (Brasília time) this Thursday (May 20.05). He himself promised that the team would be warriors in Santiago, and the players agree. Bruno tells Nação Rubro-Negra that the team is ready for the challenge and guarantees that Juan's goal at the end of the first leg at Maracanã will make the difference at the end of the 180 minutes.
"This match will be marked by commitment. It will be total dedication from the players, and the fans can be sure that Flamengo will give 100% to qualify. I'm also certain that Juan's goal will be remembered as the goal that qualified the team. But there's no point in just talking. We have to deliver on the field, and we know that," he assured.
In addition to his commitment, Bruno urges his teammates to be cautious defensively. Showing confidence in the Empire of Love, the goalkeeper believes Flamengo has a good chance of scoring two goals in Chile. The only thing left to do, therefore, is to avoid conceding any.
"We have to be careful defensively to avoid conceding goals, as Flamengo has a very strong attack. Adriano and Love can handle things up front," he noted.
This duo was mocked by the Chilean coach. Gerardo Pelusso stated that Vagner Love and Adriano are "fat" and won't be a threat in Santiago. For goalkeeper and captain Bruno, the provocations must be addressed on the field.
"I think their coach should respect the current Brazilian champion. Flamengo is a very big institution and at the end of the game we will see who is who," he added.
Flamengo is also battling history this Thursday. The team has yet to beat "La U," the only unbeaten team in the Libertadores. In three matches, they've lost two and drawn one. Furthermore, the team has never won in Chile in a tournament match, and the home team hasn't lost by two goals at home in a year. A 2-0 victory for Flamengo, for example, could mean all these statistics go down the drain soon, and that's what the players and fans are hoping for.
TECHNICAL SHEET
UNIVERSITY OF CHILE X FLAMENGO
Stadium: Santa Laura, Santiago (CHI)
Date/Time: 20/05/2010 - 22h15
Referee: Roberto Carlos Silvera (URU)
Auxiliaries: Miguel Ángel Nievas (URU) and Carlos Esteban Pastorino (URU)
UNIVERSITY OF CHILE: Miguel Pinto, Matías Rodríguez, Victorino, Olarra, Rojas; Seymour, Nelson Pinto, Fernández, Eduardo Vargas; Montillo and Olivera. Technical: Gerardo Peluso
FLAMENGO: Bruno; Léo Moura, David, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Toró, Willians, Kleberson and Michael; Vagner Love and Adriano. Technical: Rogerio Lourenço.