Flamengo defeated Americano 3-1 without much difficulty this Sunday afternoon at Maracanã. Thiago Sales (2) and Maxi scored the winning goals, which kept the red-and-black team at 100% success in the Taça Rio. The Clube da Gávea reached six points and shares the lead in Group A with Fluminense.

With a significantly changed team, the game started out tight, and Flamengo's first chance came in the third minute, through Léo Moura. Flamengo dominated the midfield and exploited the speed of Marcinho and Maxi to score against Americano.

In the 20th minute, Thiago Sales opened the scoring at Maracanã, completing a cross from Egidio. Soon after, in the 22nd minute, Maxi took advantage of goalkeeper Wender's inattention to extend the lead: 2-0 Flamengo.

Even with the lead, Flamengo didn't slow down, and almost scored a third with Thiago Sales, heading in Egídio's cross. A minute later, Bruninho forced a fine save from goalkeeper Bruno, giving Flamengo his first significant chance of the game. Maxi and Marcinho squandered Flamengo's final chances in the first half.

In the second half, Argentina's Maxi quickly threatened, shooting just wide of goalkeeper Wender's left post. The game continued without many chances for either side, and in the 23rd minute, Americano pulled one back, with Jessé capitalizing on a rebound in the penalty area.

With Americano's goal, coach Joel Santana decided to make changes to his lineup, taking out Jailton and Marcinho and bringing in Souza and Renato Augusto, who returned after a 45-day layoff. Shortly after, the number 10 crossed for Thiago Sales to head in his second goal of the match.

At the end of the match, Souza missed a great chance in the six-yard box, but the Flamengo victory was already guaranteed. In the next round, Flamengo faces Mesquita, on Wednesday, at Maracanã.\ MATCH SHEET:\ FLAMENGO 3 X 1 AMERICANO\ Stadium: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)\ Date/time: 30/2/2005 - 16:99.236,50 p.m. (Brasília time)\ Referee: Edílson Pereira de Carvalho (Fifa-SP)\ Assistants: José Antônio das Couves (SP) and Marco Antônio Abade (SP)\ Revenue/attendance: R$ 8.821 / 10.047 paying spectators (20 present)\ Yellow cards: Jônatas, Leonardo, Egídio and Toró (FLA); Isaiah, Ciro and Pirão (AME)\ GOALS: Thaigo Sales, 1'/1st half (0-22); Maxi, 1'/2st half (0-24); Jessé, 2'/2nd half (1-32); Thiago Sales, 2'/3nd half (1-45)\ FLAMENGO: Bruno, Léo Moura (Luizinho - 2'/30nd half), Leonardo, Thiago Sales and Egidio; Jaílton (Renato Augusto - 2'/29nd half), Gavilán, Jônatas and Toró; Marcinho (Souza - 2'/13nd half) and Maxi - Coach: Joel Santana.\ AMERICANO: Wender, Ciro (Ricardo - 2'/45nd half), Alex Mineiro and Anderson; Isaiah (Silvan - 2'/XNUMXnd half), Ivan (Rondinelli - half-time), Leandro Leite, Leandro Matera and Pirão; Bruninho and Jessé - Coach: Valter Ferreira.\

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