LOOK AT HIM! LÉO PEREIRA TURNS CENTER FORWARD AND SCORES A GOAL IN FLAMENGO'S VICTORY OVER CORINTHIANS

On the afternoon of last Sunday (21), Flamengo faced Corinthians, in a match valid for the seventh round of the Brazilian Championship, at Maracanã. The team led by Jorge Sampaoli, however, performed below expectations and, despite having suffered pressure from their rival, scored the winning goal in the last minutes. An unlikely hero, Léo Pereira, who had complained of discomfort in his left thigh, was responsible for giving Clube da Gávea a 1-0 victory.THE MATCH

The Mais Querido started the match with possession of the ball. In the 13th minute of the first half, Ayrton Lucas received the ball quickly on the right wing, tried to cross, but was blocked by Bruno Mendez, giving Rubro-Negro a corner. In a closed shot, Cássio punched the ball away to avoid Flamengo's dangerous arrival.

Soon, in the 15th minute, Yuri Alberto received a wrong pass from Gerson backwards, dominated and passed to Róger Guedes on the right wing. In the move, the Corinthians player lost in the race to Ayrton Lucas and made a foul. In response to the black and white attempt, Flamengo had a good arrival in the 18th minute.

In the move, Pulgar gave a beautiful pass to Gabigol at the edge of the area. The number 10 dominated, moved left-handed and tried the cross kick. However, Bruno Méndez blocked the shot and the ball went out for a corner. Until the 21st minute of the first half, only Flamengo had a chance and the proof of this was the red and black possession of the ball, approximately 71%.

Corinthians' first good chance was in the 24th minute. In the move, Fausto Vera made a good pass to Róger Guedes on the left wing. The São Paulo number 10 dominated, pulled inside and made the heel pass to Bidu, who passed at speed. The full-back hit a cross and the ball passed in front of the red-black goal.

Trying to put pressure on Flamengo, Corinthians threatened goalkeeper Santos in the 28th minute of the first half. This is because Paulinho activated Adson on the right wing. The attacker took it inside and launched Róger Guedes. The number 10 from São Paulo dominated and hit a cross close to the post. Yuri Alberto arrived in a cart and narrowly missed opening the scoring for Corinthians.

In stoppage time, Flamengo scared goalkeeper Cássio. At the time, Gerson arranged for the arrival of Thiago Maia. The number 8 hit left-handed, and the ball went over the baseline in a goal kick. Then, red-black pressure. In the pivot, Pedro received it, passed it to Gabigol, who dominated and released the bomb. The Corinthian archer saved with the tip of his finger.

In the 49th minute, Flamengo continued to put pressure on Corinthians. Victor Hugo received the ball at the edge of the area, passed between two Alvinegro players and finished with his right foot. The ball, however, deflected off Murillo and went out for a corner. Afterwards, the referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the first stage.

Flamengo, however, returned from the break under pressure from Corinthians. At 3', Santos kicked the ball wrong and hit Paulinho, who accelerated and set up Yuri Alberto for a free kick on the right side of the area. The rival's number 9 shot a left-handed shot over goalkeeper Santos. On the rebound, the ball fell to Paulinho, who attempted a crooked bicycle kick. The ball fell to the foot of Róger Guedes, who finished blocked by the red and black defense.

In the 8th minute of the second half, more pressure from Corinthians on Flamengo. Maycon took a corner, Thiago Maia went up inside the area and cleared it away. On the rebound, the ball went back into the area, Yuri Alberto went up alone, but headed out.

Just 16 minutes into the second half, Flamengo tried to bring some danger to Corinthians. Gabigol received the ball in the middle, dominated and tried to shoot from distance. The finish was weak from the baseline on a goal kick.

With 21 minutes, Wesley was called on the right wing, dominated and passed the ball low to Gerson. The number 20 made it to Vidal, who started shooting, but ended up blocked by the Corinthians defense. At 35′, Gabigol opened on the right wing, dominated and crossed for Gerson, entering the second post. The midfielder headed into the area and Cássio kept the ball.

Flamengo's goal came in the 48th minute, in stoppage time. Everton Cebolinha received the ball from Gerson on the left wing, marked by Ángel Romero, the attacker took it to his right leg and crossed to the defender, who, injured, headed it into the back of the net, guaranteeing the red and black victory.

It is important to highlight that Léo Pereira felt discomfort in his right thigh in the final stretch of the match and signaled it to the technical committee. The player ended up falling to the pitch, but as Sampaoli had already run out of stops to make substitutions, it was not possible to remove the defender. With that, the coach ordered the athlete to act as a center forward. Minutes later, to the joy of the Argentine coach, the defender and the Nation, the red and black goal came along with the victory.

NEXT COMMITMENT

Flamengo, this time, focuses in the Copa Libertadores da América dispute. Next Wednesday (24), Mais Querido will face Ñublense (CHI), starting at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), in a game valid for the fourth round of the group stage of the continental tournament. The match will take place at the Municipal Stadium of Concepción, in Chile.