In the first Fla-Flu match of the season, it was Mengão! On Sunday afternoon (25), Flamengo got the better of Brazil's most charming classic and beat Fluminense 2-0 at Maracanã, in the 10th round of Carioca. Pedro and Everton Cebolinha scored for Mengão. With the victory, Rubro-Negro reached 24 points and is very close to winning the Taça Guanabara title.

The game
The derby started off hotly at the Maracanã, with both teams battling for possession. Flamengo pushed up its defense and pressured Fluminense's passing, which found little space to attack.

In the 17th minute, defender Thiago Santos opened the scoring for the Tricolor, but after a VAR review, the referee ruled it offside. The first real threat for the Red-Blacks came in the 23rd minute. Ayrton Lucas delivered a perfect cross for Léo Pereira to head in. The ball sailed just wide of the post.

Flamengo, attacking through passing, put together a powerful play in the 27th minute. Arrascaeta passed to Luiz Araújo, who burst into the box, and the ball fell to Varela. The Uruguayan attempted a shot on goal, but Marlon blocked it at the last moment. The first half ended goalless.

At the start of the second half, Mengão opened the scoring to the delight of the Red-Black Nation! Ayrton Lucas got the ball on the left and crossed into the box for Pedro to tap home: 1-0.

After the goal, the red-and-black team maintained its attacking stance. In the 14th minute, De La Cruz took a free kick from the left side of the penalty area, and the ball sailed just wide of the post, drawing a uh! from the crowd. Needing goals, Fluminense pushed forward to equalize and began to threaten Rossi's goal more.

Mengão scored their second goal with a beautiful team effort, from foot to foot! Arrascaeta back-heeled the ball to Pedro, who then back-heeled it to Cebolinha. The striker unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, and Fábio palmed it into the net: 9-2.

In the final stretch, the Mais Querido team missed the third goal by inches in the 38th minute. Cebolinha launched an attack, Fábio managed to clear it, but the ball fell to Arrascaeta. The Uruguayan took a long-range shot, but the ball skimmed the post. The match ended at the Maracanã Stadium with a victory for Mengão, who played another strong collective performance. Tite's team reached 24 points in the Guanabara Cup and is very close to securing the title in the final round.

Next appointment
Rubro-Negro returns to the field next Saturday (2) to face Madureira, at 16 pm, at Maracanã, for the last round of the Taça Guanabara. 

Flamengo
Rossi; Varela, Fabricio Bruno, Leo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas (Viña); Erick Pulgar, De La Cruz (Igor Jesus) and Arrascaeta; Luiz Araújo (Bruno Henrique), Everton Cebolinha (Victor Hugo) and Pedro (Gabi).
Coach: Tite.

Fluminense
Fabio; Guga (Lima), Marlon (Alexsander), Thiago Santos (Antônio Carlos) and Diogo Barbosa; André, Martinelli and Renato Augusto (Terans); John Arias, Douglas Costa (John Kennedy) and Germán Cano.
Coach: Fernando Diniz.

Technical sheet
Flamengo 2x0 Fluminense – 10th Round of the Carioca Championship
Location: Maracanã, RJ
Date and time 25/02/2024 at 16:XNUMX p.m.
Arbitration: Yuri Elino Ferreira da Cruz, Rodrigo Figueiredo Corrêa and Luiz Claudio Regazone.
Yellow cards: Thiago Santos (FLU), Erick (FLA), Douglas Costa (FLU), Lima (FLU) and Arrascaeta (FLA)
Goals: Pedro (7'2nd half) and Everton Cebolinha (29'2nd half).