Flamengo took to the field this Saturday (30) to face the Nova Iguaçu team, for the first leg of the Campeonato Carioca, and won the match 3-0. Pedro, twice, in addition to an own goal gave the numbers to the match. The two teams will meet again next Sunday (7), at 17 pm, again at Maracanã, to define the champion of the tournament.

The game
Mengão started the game pressing: in the fourth minute, Luiz Araújo made a good run down the left and passed to Cebolinha, who cut past the defender and shot dangerously into the corner of the opposing goal. Mengão continued to search for their first goal of the match. In the ninth minute, Pedro headed the ball, but the goalkeeper saved; the play continued, and De La Cruz crossed for Fabrício Bruno, who headed the ball against the post.

In the 19th minute, Ayrton Lucas, always speedy, was brought down inside the box, and the referee awarded a penalty. Pedro took the shot and converted, opening the scoring in the final. Continuing to search for a second goal, De La Cruz found a beautiful pass to Pedro, who laid it off for Luiz Araújo, who finished past the goalkeeper. In the 39th minute, Luiz Araújo made a great individual play down the right side of the field and passed to Pedro to score another, but the opponent saved. In the last play of the first half, the number 9 scored another, but the referee disallowed it. The first 45 minutes of the final ended 1-0 for Mengão.

After the break, the Red-Blacks came back with a vengeance, and the 13th goal had to be Pedro's. After a masterful pass from Luiz Araújo to Cebolinha, the number 11 passed the ball to the side for Pedro to simply tap it into the Nova Iguaçu goal.

The Mais Querido, which was two goals ahead, controlled the match until Luiz Araújo crossed for Bruno Henrique to head into the net from the outside. On the next play, Nova Iguaçu's defense got in a mess, and Flamengo scored the third goal, an own goal.

With a healthy lead, Tite sent the Ninho Boys into action, with Igor Jesus, Victor Hugo, and Matheus Gonçalves. The 90 minutes ended, and the red-and-blacks celebrated.

Next confrontation
The red-black team travels to Colombia to face Millonarios, on Tuesday (2), for the first match of the Copa Conmebol Libertadores.

lineups
Flamengo

Rossi; Varela, Fabricio Bruno, Leo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas; Pulgar (Igor Jesus), De La Cruz (Allan) and Arrascaeta (Matheus Gonçalves); Luiz Araújo (Victor Hugo), Pedro and Everton Cebolinha (Bruno Henrique)

New Iguaçu

Fabrício Santana; Yan Silva (Matheus Matias), Gabriel Pinheiro, Sérgio Raphael (Ronald) and Maicon Esquerdinha (Sidney); Albert, Igor Fraga (Fernandinho) and Yago Ferreira; Bill, Carlinhos and Xandinho (Maxsuell Alegria)

Technical sheet
Nova Iguaçu 0 x 3 Flamengo – First leg of the Carioca Championship Final
Location: Maracanã, RJ
Date and time: 30/03/2024 at 17:XNUMX PM
Refereeing: Alex Gomes Stefano, Thiago Henrique Neto Correa Farinha and Thiago Rosa de Oliveira
Goals: Pedro (FLA, 48' 1st half and 7' 2nd half) and Ronald (NIG, own goal, 31' 2nd half)
Cards: Albert (NIG), Varela (FLA), Igor Fraga (NIG), Pulgar (FLA)

*Under supervision of Isabela Abirached