Ten years ago, Fla beat "La U" 4-0 in Chile
Rubro-Negro defeated Universidad de Chile, away from home, in a match valid for the 2000 Mercosul Cup
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
If Flamengo's recent record against Universidad de Chile isn't the best, just look back at 1999 and 2000 to give the red-and-blacks even more hope that they can overcome the Chileans in Santiago next Thursday at 22:15 p.m. Ten years ago, in the Mercosul Cup, in the same Chilean capital, the team from Gávea thrashed "La U" 4-0.
At the time, two players from the current team were on the field: midfielder Petkovic and center forward Adriano. But the goals were scored by Edílson (2), Fabão, and Denílson, and the star of the show was goalkeeper Júlio Cesar, who, inspired, made some great saves and even saved a penalty kick from Mora. Petkovic was directly involved in two goals: in the first, he took a corner kick that Edilson deflected through the defense. In the second, also from a corner kick, he found Fabão free to head in.
The previous year, in 1999, another, even bigger rout marked the match. But this one was at the Maracanã, and with a show by Baixinho Romário. He scored four times. Caio, Marco Antônio, and Rodrigo Mendes completed the 7-0 victory. Besides the score, the victory situation was also difficult. According to the 1999 Mercosul Cup regulations, only eight clubs from the five groups in the first phase would qualify for the quarterfinals of the competition: the top-placed teams along with the three best second-placed teams.
Four teams were in contention, and Flamengo had the least chance of qualifying. Nacional and Corinthians, who had played before, scored 10 points and had goal differences of four and five, respectively. Flamengo had seven points and a goal difference of one, tied with Boca Juniors, who had a goal difference of three. In other words, to avoid relying on Boca Juniors' game, Flamengo would have to win by four goals or win by three and hope Boca didn't beat Universidad Católica, who were at the bottom of their group. But Flamengo scored seven and advanced in the competition, which they would later win in the final against Palmeiras.
At the time, two players from the current team were on the field: midfielder Petkovic and center forward Adriano. But the goals were scored by Edílson (2), Fabão, and Denílson, and the star of the show was goalkeeper Júlio Cesar, who, inspired, made some great saves and even saved a penalty kick from Mora. Petkovic was directly involved in two goals: in the first, he took a corner kick that Edilson deflected through the defense. In the second, also from a corner kick, he found Fabão free to head in.
The previous year, in 1999, another, even bigger rout marked the match. But this one was at the Maracanã, and with a show by Baixinho Romário. He scored four times. Caio, Marco Antônio, and Rodrigo Mendes completed the 7-0 victory. Besides the score, the victory situation was also difficult. According to the 1999 Mercosul Cup regulations, only eight clubs from the five groups in the first phase would qualify for the quarterfinals of the competition: the top-placed teams along with the three best second-placed teams.
Four teams were in contention, and Flamengo had the least chance of qualifying. Nacional and Corinthians, who had played before, scored 10 points and had goal differences of four and five, respectively. Flamengo had seven points and a goal difference of one, tied with Boca Juniors, who had a goal difference of three. In other words, to avoid relying on Boca Juniors' game, Flamengo would have to win by four goals or win by three and hope Boca didn't beat Universidad Católica, who were at the bottom of their group. But Flamengo scored seven and advanced in the competition, which they would later win in the final against Palmeiras.