The 2024 season has started. And on the right foot! In the debut of the Campeonato Carioca, Flamengo thrashed Audax Rio 4-0, on Wednesday night (17), at Arena da Amazônia, in Manaus. Léo Pereira, Pedro, Cebolinha and Varela scored the goals for Mengão, making the Nation that filled the stadium celebrate.

The game
The match had barely started and Mengão had already scored its first goal of the season! Arrascaeta took a corner kick to the near post, and Léo Pereira headed it in. The goalkeeper tried to save it, but the ball went in. The score opened in Manaus: 1-0.

The red-and-black team continued to attack in search of a second. Fabrício Bruno found Pedro in midfield, the number 9 passed to Arrascaeta, who found Cebolinha, who advanced and hit a cross. The ball went wide. In the 21st minute, Luiz Araújo received the ball freely on the right and crossed into the box. Pedro deflected it with a sliding tackle, but the ball went wide.

Always looking to attack, the Mais Querido team arrived well on the left flank. Cebolinha dribbled past his marker and crossed into the box. Luiz Araújo headed the ball, but it went over the crossbar. Pushing down the left, Cebolinha again lofted the ball into the box, Pedro controlled it with his chest and shot powerfully, forcing a great save from Leandro.

After much persistence, Mengão scored their second goal in the 37th minute. Varela exchanged passes with Arrascaeta and crossed into the box. The ball reached Gerson on the left side of the box, who crossed low for Pedro to finish with a backheel, extending the red-and-black lead to 2-0.

And there was still time for a third in the first half! Cebolinha played a one-two with Arrascaeta, the ball hit the defender and fell to the striker himself, who fired it into the corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance: 3-0. It was a great first half for Tite's team.

The Red-Blacks returned from the break with Gabi replacing Arrascaeta. Repeating the first half, Mengão scored early! Varela took a shot from the middle of the road, the goalkeeper missed, and the ball gently went into the net: 4-0.

Even with the rout already in place, Flamengo continued to push for more. In the 19th minute, Cebolinha sent a good ball to Gabi, who entered the box but shot wide. As the minutes passed, the red-and-black team slowed down the game, exchanging passes from foot to foot.

In stoppage time, the fifth goal almost came. Cebolinha, one of the game's standouts, delivered a perfect cross for Bruno Henrique to head against the post. He then fired the rebound wide himself. The conversation in Manaus ended with a massive victory for Mengão!

upcoming appointments
The red-black squad continues its journey to the United States and will face the Philadelphia Union next Sunday (21), at 16 pm, in Saint Petersburg. Meanwhile, on the same day, an alternative Mengão team faces Nova Iguaçu, at 18:10 pm, at the Almeidão-PB stadium, for the second round of the Cariocão 2024.

Flamengo
Rossi; Varela (Wesley), Fabricio Bruno, Leo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas; Erick (Allan), Gerson (Victor Hugo) and Arrascaeta (Gabi); Luiz Araújo (Bruno Henrique), Everton Cebolinha and Pedro.
Coach: Tite.

Audax Rio
Leandro; Matheus Claudino (Gualberto), Igor Amaral, João Victor and Paulo Victor; Miticov (Pablo Alves), Romarinho (Arlen), Clisman (João Cabral) and Patrick; Italo (Caucaia) and Gersinho.
Coach: Tuca Guimarães.

Technical sheet
Flamengo 4x0 Audax Rio – 1st Round of the Carioca Championship
Location: Amazon Arena, Manaus
Date and time: 17/01/2024 at 21:30 pm
Arbitration: Alex Gomes Stefano, Gustavo Mota Correia and Thiago Filemon Pinto
Goals: Léo Pereira (2'1st half), Pedro (37'1st half), Everton Cebolinha (41'1st half) and Varela (3'2nd half).