Flamengo beats Fluminense 2-1 and qualifies for the Taça Rio final.
Despite playing with one less player since the end of the first half, Flamengo overcame the odds and achieved an incredible qualification.
By Communication - Flamengo - in
We're in the Taça Rio final. With goals from Renê and Everton Ribeiro (from a penalty), Flamengo beat Fluminense 2-1 and qualified for the Taça Rio final. And it was a hard-fought victory. The Rubro-Negro played with one less player from the end of the first half, when Bruno Henrique was sent off.
First time
Flamengo dominated the first half. The first chance came just 7 minutes into the game. Uribe found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Rodolfo after a mistake by the Fluminense defense, but he was hampered by the grass and shot weakly. Flamengo would threaten Rodolfo again with Bruno Henrique before opening the scoring with Renê. Flamengo's stunning goal came in the 29th minute. The full-back unleashed a powerful shot from outside the area: 1-0. Flamengo continued to play better and almost extended their lead with a header from Bruno Henrique shortly after. Rodolfo made a miraculous save. Uribe had another great chance, but Rodolfo, again, made the save.
Second time
In the second half, with one player less (Bruno Henrique was sent off in the first half), Flamengo began to wait more for Fluminense in their own half. In the 15th minute, Yony González equalized from the penalty spot: 1-1. But Flamengo fought valiantly. De Arrascaeta, Vitor Gabriel, and Lucas Silva came on very well and dictated the pace. It was the latter, in fact, who won the penalty, converted by Everton Ribeiro in the final minutes: a 2-1 victory for Flamengo and qualification for the final. Celebration for the Nation!
And now?
Flamengo will play again on Sunday against the winner of the Vasco or Bangu match, which takes place on Thursday.