Vinicius Junior puts on a show and guarantees Flamengo's victory in the Brasileirão
Youngster scores twice, shows old chemistry with Paquetá and the Rubro-Negro team rises to fifth place in the table
By Lucas Dantas - Flamengo Communications - in
August 19, 2017, was the day Vinicius Junior made his mark at Ilha do Urubu. A day when two talented youngsters stepped up to the plate and decided the match for a Flamengo side plagued by suspensions and injuries. Flamengo took the field to face Atlético Goianiense in the 21st round of the Brazilian Championship needing a win to end a troublesome four-game winless streak.
Coach Reinaldo Rueda, in his first match on Ilha do Urubu, launched a fast, young attack to try to overcome the Goiás team's defense. And it worked. Rueda had 15 shots in total, and the Mais Querido controlled the match and dominated throughout the 90 minutes, building the score in the second half to secure the three points at the end.
With the 2-0 victory, Flamengo reached 32 points and sits in fifth place in the standings. Now, the team focuses on the second leg of the Copa do Brasil semifinal, against Botafogo, on Wednesday at Maracanã. For the Brasileirão, the team returns to action on Sunday, at Ilha do Urubu, against Atlético Paranense, at 16 pm.
Flamengo 2 x 0 Atlético Goianiense
19/08/2017
Urubu Island
Flamengo: Diego Alves, Pará, Rever, Rhodolfo and Rafael Vaz (Renê [later Rodinei]). Marcio Araújo, Willian Arão and Everton Ribeiro. Geuvânio (Diego), Vinicius Jr and Lucas Paquetá. Technical: Reinaldo Rueda
Atlético Goianiense: Felipe Garcia, Jonathan (Andre Castro), William Alves, Gilvan and Bruno Pacheco. Igor, Paulinho, Andrigo (Breno Lopes), Jorginho, Diego Rosa (Luiz Fernando) and Walter. Technical: João Paulo Sanches
Goals: Second Half - Vinicius Junior (10' and 29')
Yellow Cards: Vinicius Jr, Marcio Araújo (Flamengo); Andrigo, Igor and Jonathan (Atlético GO)
Coach Reinaldo Rueda, in his first match on Ilha do Urubu, launched a fast, young attack to try to overcome the Goiás team's defense. And it worked. Rueda had 15 shots in total, and the Mais Querido controlled the match and dominated throughout the 90 minutes, building the score in the second half to secure the three points at the end.
With the 2-0 victory, Flamengo reached 32 points and sits in fifth place in the standings. Now, the team focuses on the second leg of the Copa do Brasil semifinal, against Botafogo, on Wednesday at Maracanã. For the Brasileirão, the team returns to action on Sunday, at Ilha do Urubu, against Atlético Paranense, at 16 pm.
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Due to the Copa do Brasil, Rueda fielded a significantly altered lineup from what fans are used to. Rafael Vaz was selected at left back. Up front, Geuvânio and Vinicius Junior were deployed on either wing, with Lucas Paquetá playing centrally.
Needing a win and playing at home against the last-place team in the competition, Flamengo came out intent on controlling the match from the start, passing the ball around and waiting for the best opportunity. The first chance to score came in the eighth minute. Pará crossed from the right, the defense rebounded, and Marcio Araújo fired a low shot, but goalkeeper Felipe Garcia palmed it away for a corner.
With technical superiority, the "Mais Querido" (The Most Beloved) continued to dictate the pace of the match. In the 15th minute, Paquetá hit a superb free kick from the edge of the box, drawing another save from the Atlético goalkeeper.
The pace of the match slowed down. Only in the 38th minute did the game see another dramatic moment, with Walter firing a shot from outside the box, which was well saved by Diego Alves, his first intervention of the match. The red-and-blacks responded six minutes later. Vaz found Paquetá in the box. The number 39 passed the ball to Vinicius Jr., who shot past the defense, and the ball went out for a corner. In the last minute, Everton Ribeiro took a good free kick from the edge of the box, but Felipe saved it, and referee Rodolpho Toski ended the match without allowing the corner to be taken. Thus, the first half ended goalless.
Due to the Copa do Brasil, Rueda fielded a significantly altered lineup from what fans are used to. Rafael Vaz was selected at left back. Up front, Geuvânio and Vinicius Junior were deployed on either wing, with Lucas Paquetá playing centrally.
Needing a win and playing at home against the last-place team in the competition, Flamengo came out intent on controlling the match from the start, passing the ball around and waiting for the best opportunity. The first chance to score came in the eighth minute. Pará crossed from the right, the defense rebounded, and Marcio Araújo fired a low shot, but goalkeeper Felipe Garcia palmed it away for a corner.
With technical superiority, the "Mais Querido" (The Most Beloved) continued to dictate the pace of the match. In the 15th minute, Paquetá hit a superb free kick from the edge of the box, drawing another save from the Atlético goalkeeper.
The pace of the match slowed down. Only in the 38th minute did the game see another dramatic moment, with Walter firing a shot from outside the box, which was well saved by Diego Alves, his first intervention of the match. The red-and-blacks responded six minutes later. Vaz found Paquetá in the box. The number 39 passed the ball to Vinicius Jr., who shot past the defense, and the ball went out for a corner. In the last minute, Everton Ribeiro took a good free kick from the edge of the box, but Felipe saved it, and referee Rodolpho Toski ended the match without allowing the corner to be taken. Thus, the first half ended goalless.
The second half began with Flamengo on top. Just two minutes in, Arão headed the ball off the post, bringing the crowd to life. Flamengo was looking dangerous. In the ninth minute, it was Paquetá's turn to create another threat with a free kick that sailed just wide of the goal. Until the ball finally went in.
Vinicius Junior received a through ball, beat the run, and shot past the goalkeeper. His second goal for the senior team and at Ilha do Urubu.
The young striker nearly scored another in the 27th minute. Paquetá challenged for the ball in the air, and it fell to Vinicius, who beat the defense and headed it past the goalkeeper, but the shot ended up going wide, skimming the post. Disappointment? Absolutely not. Two minutes later, Paquetá delivered a superb pass, leaving Vinicius face-to-face with the goal. Like a striker with years under his belt, he beat the goalkeeper and calmly tapped the ball into the back of the net.
Flamengo still had a few chances, but they didn't need them. The result was guaranteed, and they just had to wait for time to pass.
Vinicius Junior received a through ball, beat the run, and shot past the goalkeeper. His second goal for the senior team and at Ilha do Urubu.
The young striker nearly scored another in the 27th minute. Paquetá challenged for the ball in the air, and it fell to Vinicius, who beat the defense and headed it past the goalkeeper, but the shot ended up going wide, skimming the post. Disappointment? Absolutely not. Two minutes later, Paquetá delivered a superb pass, leaving Vinicius face-to-face with the goal. Like a striker with years under his belt, he beat the goalkeeper and calmly tapped the ball into the back of the net.
Flamengo still had a few chances, but they didn't need them. The result was guaranteed, and they just had to wait for time to pass.
Flamengo 2 x 0 Atlético Goianiense
19/08/2017
Urubu Island
Flamengo: Diego Alves, Pará, Rever, Rhodolfo and Rafael Vaz (Renê [later Rodinei]). Marcio Araújo, Willian Arão and Everton Ribeiro. Geuvânio (Diego), Vinicius Jr and Lucas Paquetá. Technical: Reinaldo Rueda
Atlético Goianiense: Felipe Garcia, Jonathan (Andre Castro), William Alves, Gilvan and Bruno Pacheco. Igor, Paulinho, Andrigo (Breno Lopes), Jorginho, Diego Rosa (Luiz Fernando) and Walter. Technical: João Paulo Sanches
Goals: Second Half - Vinicius Junior (10' and 29')
Yellow Cards: Vinicius Jr, Marcio Araújo (Flamengo); Andrigo, Igor and Jonathan (Atlético GO)