IT'S CHAMPION! In the last round of the Guanabara Cup, Flamengo thrashed Maricá 5-0 on Saturday night (22), at Maracanã, and won the second championship and its 25th title in the competition. Gerson, Léo Ortiz, Arrascaeta, Luiz Araújo and Matheus Gonçalves scored for Mengão, who now await their opponent in the Carioca semifinal.  

The game
Flamengo dominated the opening moves at the Maracanã, exchanging passes in the attacking half. Six minutes in, Flamengo had their first clear chance to score. Varela stepped up to the baseline and crossed into the box for Arrascaeta to tap in. The ball hit the crossbar.

With complete control of the action, the red-and-black team was cornering Maricá in their own half. In the 10th minute, Plata burst into the box from the left and sent a low cross. The ball sailed across the six-yard box, and no one could connect on goal. Soon after, Mengão opened the scoring with Gerson! In a well-rehearsed corner kick, Arrascaeta sent a low shot from the penalty spot, Plata caught it first time, and the ball bounced off the defense. From the rebound, the red-and-black captain fired a shot into the corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance: 1-0.

The Mais Querido didn't slow down and extended their lead in the 25th minute with Léo Ortiz! After a ball was lifted into the box, the goalkeeper was out of position and the ball fell to the number 3, who only had to tap it into the net: 2-0. In the final minutes, Flamengo continued to dominate possession and went into halftime with a healthy lead.

The start of the second half was the same as the first: attack against defense. Flamengo continued to press forward, looking for more goals. In the fifth minute, Bruno Henrique played a pass past the goalkeeper, but João Victor cleared it off the line.

The third and fourth goals followed! In the 11th minute, Plata laid off Arrascaeta inside the box, and the Uruguayan slotted it into Dida's left corner to make it 3-0. Two minutes later, Luiz Araújo got past two defenders, burst into the box, and unleashed a low shot that left the goalkeeper with no chance: 4-0.

Even with the rout in place, Mengão continued to pressure Maricá. Danilo dominated the attacking midfield, controlled the ball with care, and unleashed a shot. The goalkeeper jumped to the right corner and palmed it away for a corner.

To seal the rout, the fifth goal was a masterpiece by Matheus Gonçalves. The number 20 played a one-two with Wallace Yan, leaving two defenders on the ground, and then subtly tipped the ball over the goalkeeper to make it 5-0. With this result, the "Mais Querido" (Most Beloved) team finished the Taça Guanabara in first place with 23 points, securing its second title.

Week's agenda
Mengão returns to the field next weekend for the first leg of the Campeonato Carioca semifinals. The opponent, date, and time are yet to be determined.

Flamengo
Rossi; Varela, Leo Ortiz (João Victor), Danilo and Leo Pereira; Erick (Allan), Gerson and Arrascaeta; Plata (Wallace Yan), Everton Cebolinha (Luiz Araújo) and Bruno Henrique (Matheus Gonçalves).
Coach: Filipe Luís.

Maricá
Dida; Almir Sóta (Magno Nunes), Felipe Carvalho, Sandro and João Victor; Clayton, Bezerro, Vinícius Matheus (Rhenan) and Walber (Bruninho); Gutemberg and Hugo Borges (Rafael Carioca).
Coach: Reinaldo.

Technical sheet
Flamengo 5x0 Maricá – 11th Round of the Guanabara Cup
Location: Maracanã
Date and time: 22/02/2025 at 19:XNUMX am
Arbitration: Yuri Elino Ferreira da Cruz, Gustavo Mota Correia and Lilian da Silva Fernandes Bruno
Goals: Gerson (16'1st half), Léo Ortiz (25'1st half), Arrascaeta (11'2nd half), Luiz Araújo (13'2nd half) and Matheus Gonçalves (35'2nd half).