FLAMENGO TURN ON MADUREIRA AND FOCUS ON CLASSIFICATION FOR MATA - MATA OF COPA RIO U-20

Flamengo's under-17 team achieved a convincing victory on Wednesday afternoon (3), beating América-MG 3-0 at Arena Vera Cruz, in Betim, Minas Gerais. With a strong offensive performance in the first 45 minutes , Mais Querido built the result that guaranteed them three important points in the 12th round of the Brazilian Under-17 Championship.

The Ninho Boys opened the scoring in the third minute, with Victor Hugo finishing with precision after a pass from Lucas Falcone. The pressure continued, and in the 15th minute, Rafinha doubled the lead with an assist from Gabriel Amâncio. Just before halftime, in the 42nd minute, João Vitor completed Rafinha's move and scored the third, solidifying the red-and-black team's dominance in the first half.

WITH 20 POINTS FROM FLAMENGO

With the result, Daniel Franklin's team reached 20 points and moved up two places in the standings , now occupying eighth place, the last place in the qualifying zone for the next stage of the tournament. This was Mengão 's sixth victory in the championship.

The team returns to action on August 6th, facing Fortaleza at José Bastos Padilha Stadium in Gávea. The team hopes to maintain its momentum and cement its place among the leaders of the national youth competition.

LINEUP AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THE GAME

Flamengo started the match with : Eduardo Clasen, Diego Guimarães, Daniel Monteiro, Levy Dias, Gabriel Amâncio, Rafael Henrique, Rogério Araujo, Lucas Falcone, Guilherme Ivo, João Vitor and Victor Hugo. On the bench were: Gabriel Werneck, João Victor, Pedro Pinho, Fábio Esteves, Heitor Fairbancks, Enzo Pinheiro, João Ricardo, Matheus Tiago, Kaio Gomes, Davi Waisman and Emanuel Silva.

Flamengo is out of the Brazilian Under-20 Championship . After drawing 1-1 in regular time against Cruzeiro, on Wednesday afternoon (30), at the Luso Brasileiro Stadium, the team was beaten 4-3 on penalties and said goodbye to the competition in the quarterfinals. Pedro Leão scored the Rubro-Negro's goal during the 90 minutes.

Bruno Pivetti's team created several chances, especially in the second half, but failed to convert their superiority into goals. Cruzeiro took the lead in the first half, with Baptistella scoring in the 26th minute. Mengão's response came early in the second half , with Pedro Leão capitalizing on an opposing defense error to equalize the match in the first minute.

Flamengo continued to press and had at least four good chances to turn the score around, notably shots by Lorran and Felipe Teresa. However, the ball stubbornly refused to go in, with a shot hitting the post and important saves by the Minas Gerais goalkeeper.

PENALTIES DECISION

In the penalty shootout, Cruzeiro scored with Pedro, Iago, and Wanderson , but Lorran and Guilherme missed their own. Goalkeeper Lucas Furtado even saved a penalty, but the final score of 4-3 secured Cruzeiro's place in the semifinals.

NEXT APPOINTMENT

With the national elimination, the focus of Flamengo 's youth team now turns to the Campeonato Carioca U-20. The debut is scheduled for Saturday (3), at 3 pm, again at the Luso Brasileiro Stadium, against Portuguesa-RJ. The coaching staff will continue working to adjust the team after the elimination, highlighting the good collective performance and the chances created throughout the match.

Flamengo's planning to strengthen its youth teams continues at a fast pace. This Monday (27), the club agreed to sign 17-year-old left-back João Carlos , who has played for teams such as Vasco and Botafogo. The information was released by digital influencer Guilherme Flazoeiro.

João Carlos has signed a youth development contract with the red-and-black club, although the duration of the contract has not been revealed. The young athlete arrives at Ninho do Urubu to join Flamengo 's under-17 squad , which is competing in the Brazilian Championship.

JOÃO CARLOS STAND OUT AT VASCO

Revealed by Vasco's under-15 team in 2023, João Carlos was quickly promoted to the under-17 team after strong performances. The following year, he transferred to Botafogo, where he gained even more visibility. In just nine matches, he scored four goals and was promoted to the black and white under-17 team.

In 2024, despite being just 17 years old, João Carlos played for Botafogo's under-20 team. He also competed in the Copa Rio and the Campeonato Carioca U-17, making 19 appearances and scoring five goals in these competitions. His impressive performances caught the attention of Mengão's youth academy, which added him to the squad.

AND THE MAIN TEAM?

After returning to the top of the Brasileirão, Flamengo returned on Monday afternoon (28) , at Ninho do Urubu, and began preparations for the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. Mengão faces Atlético-MG this Thursday (31), at 9:30 pm, at Maracanã, for the first leg. The return leg will be played on August 6 at Arena MRV.