Uribe scores twice, Vitinho excels on the field and Flamengo crushes Fluminense in the Brazilian Championship
Rubro-Negro reaches 55 points and shows that the fight for the seventh title will last until the end of the championship.
By Lucas Dantas - inA sunny and hot Saturday was the setting for yet another Flamengo victory at the Maracanã. Flamengo dominated Fluminense, winning 3-0 and taking second place in the Brazilian Championship with 55 points, one less than the leader Palmeiras, and awaiting the completion of the round on Sunday.
It was a show by Vitinho, who tormented the right flank of the Tricolor team, providing assists for two goals and also dribbling, attacking and energizing the fans. In the first half, two goals, by Fernando Uribe and Léo Duarte. In the second half, Uribe, again, completed the scoring, sending more than 40 happy fans home, and guaranteeing a joyful Saturday for the Flamengo Nation.
The game started as hot as the temperature in the city. Fluminense had the first opportunity just four minutes in, Luciano unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the area, but César saved it in two stages. Flamengo responded in the ninth minute. Vitinho made a great play and crossed. The ball fell to Willian Arão, who shot hard, but over the bar. A minute later, there was no stopping them. Vitinho crossed perfectly to Uribe's head and opened the scoring, sending the fans in the stands into raptures.
The number 14 was on fire down the wing. Vitinho was the team's main attacking option, combining well with Lucas Paquetá and Renê and driving the Fluminense defense crazy. Fluminense, who started well, began to shrink back into their own half and watched Flamengo play.
At 23 minutes, Pará crossed low, Uribe arrived late and goalkeeper Julio Cesar got there first, but dropped the ball, which fell to Vitinho who shot from outside the area. Uribe arrived a second later but couldn't get his foot in to score the second goal.
The game cooled down and dangerous plays decreased. However, when it seemed like everything was heading towards halftime without much excitement, Vitinho, once again, delivered a perfect cross and Leo Duarte headed in the second goal, securing a comfortable lead heading into the locker room.
With a goal it ends, with a goal it begins again. Just three minutes in, Paquetá shot from the edge of the box, the ball deflected off the defense and fell to Uribe, who was unmarked, to score his second goal of the game and practically seal the victory.
The remainder of the second half was merely a formality. With Fluminense annihilated on the field, Flamengo focused on passing the ball around and even had good opportunities. In the 40th minute, Paquetá put Orlando Berrío through on goal. The striker shot past the goalkeeper, but the ball was weak and the defense cleared it near the line.
It wasn't even necessary. Flamengo were dominant on the field and the victory only did justice to the team that sought victory the whole time. Three more points and the fight for the seventh title continues strong. The team returns to the field next Sunday (21), against Paraná, in Cascavel, at 19 pm.