On an inspired night for the red-and-black team at Ilha do Urubu, Lucas Paquetá helped Flamengo secure another crucial victory of the season, this time against Chapecoense. The youngster scored the final goal of the 4-0 rout, turning in a beautiful assist from Everton Ribeiro, who also had a strong performance in the match.

Once again, the "Boy from the Nest" had the chance to play center forward, a role he's becoming accustomed to with each match. Paquetá came on as a replacement for Paolo Guerrero in the 33rd minute of the second half. "The position I most identify with is midfield, but it's important to be playing, to have opportunities. Whenever the coach wants to use me, I need to be ready," said the talented player in the stadium's mixed zone after the match.

In addition to his skill with the ball and tactical intelligence, his willpower is always evident on the pitch. A member of the club since he was six years old, this "joker" from Rueda's motivation comes from his love for Flamengo and the realization of his dream of playing professionally for his beloved club.

"Since I was little, I've been longing for everything that's happening now. So when I step onto the field, what I think about is giving my best, taking advantage of the opportunity, being happy, and doing what I know. This gives me a bit of peace of mind, as do all my teammates and the coach, who give me a lot of support. I've been working hard and, thank God, I've been able to make the most of it," he said.

With last night's result, coach Reinaldo Rueda's team advances to the quarterfinals of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana. The emphatic manner in which this victory was constructed also played a fundamental role in the rest of the season, maintaining the squad's confidence high and continuing their campaign in the international competition.

"It was a decisive game, a qualifying game. With games like this, we gain more and more strength and support from the fans. It was very important to win here to continue our work," he commented. "Thank God we played a great game and made it through another stage. Now it's time to think about the next opponent. Our minds are on Avaí, but regardless of the opponent, we'll go out there and give our best," concluded the "Boy from the Nest."