A DREAM IS NO LONGER JUST FOR THE CROWDS! ITALIANS SAY FLAMENGO IS IN THE AREA TO GUARANTEE A JUVENTUS PLAYER

Flamengo once again demonstrated its strength in the Brasileirão Women's Under-20 Championship, defeating Fluminense 2-0 in this round of the Rio derby. With goals from Leane and Brendha, the red-and-black team secured its fourth consecutive victory and remained in sole command of Group A with a 100% record.

In the first minute, Flamengo pressed the opposition's ball out and forced a mistake from the Tricolor defense. Leane seized the opportunity and opened the scoring. Shortly after, Emilly sprinted past two defenders and hit the post. Nicoli had a chance to extend the lead from the rebound, but the ball went wide.

WITH EFFICIENT ATTACK AND SAFE DEFENSE

In the 20th minute of the first half, after a beautiful pass from Leane, Brendha found herself unmarked and finished with precision past the goalkeeper, extending the lead. Mengão continued to control the game and went into the break with a clear lead and confidence.

In the second half, the team maintained its attacking rhythm. Emilly took a dangerous free kick after just three minutes, nearly scoring the third. In the 10th minute, Laura Mariah crossed from the byline to Bruna, who set up Emilly for another shot, forcing a great save from the opposing goalkeeper. Cerqueira then hit the crossbar with a beautiful shot.

On defense, defender Duda Mattos stood out for her solid performance, ensuring stability throughout the match. With this result, "Mais Querido" now has 12 points , practically sealing its place in the next phase of the competition, with two rounds remaining.

FLAMENGO HAS A CHALLENGE AWAY FROM HOME

The Flamengo team's next match will be this Thursday (17), against Mixto-MT, away from home. The expectation is for another good performance from the team , which is experiencing a great moment in the national youth competition.

Flamengo's squad continues its preparations for the season's upcoming matches. According to team doctor Fernando Sassaki, only one player from the main squad remains out of action at the moment: midfielder Erick Pulgar, who recently underwent surgery on his right foot after a serious injury suffered at the Club World Cup . In an interview with 'Flamengo TV,' Sassaki provided details about the player's current condition and recovery.

" So far, we have most of the players fit, except for Erick Pulgar, who suffered a fractured fifth metatarsal. Our department recommended the surgery, and it was performed. The surgery went well, without any complications. We spoke with the doctor who performed the procedure and with the athlete. He is now resting and returning to rehabilitation," the professional said.

HOW ERICK PULGAR'S INJURY OCCURRED

The injury that forced Pulgar to leave the field occurred during the Club World Cup Round of 16 match against Bayern Munich. The number 5 was involved in a collision with England striker Harry Kane and ended up getting the worst of it . While still on the field, the Chilean received initial medical attention and was soon taken to a hospital for further examination.

The surgical procedure was performed last Thursday (03), in Chile, the athlete's home country. Pulgar chose to undergo the operation with the medical team that has been with him since the beginning of his career, which provided greater safety for the player during the process. According to the medical department's estimates, the midfielder's return to the field should occur between September and October, depending on the progress of his recovery.

FLAMENGO FACES SÃO PAULO ON SATURDAY

While Pulgar continues to recover, coach Filipe Luís is taking advantage of training to adjust the final details of the team that will face São Paulo next Saturday (12), in the Brazilian Championship.

In a match valid for the 17th round of the Brazilian Under-20 Championship, Flamengo and Botafogo face each other this Thursday (10), at 6 pm (Brasília time), at the Luso Brasileiro Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ). The match will be broadcast live on the Sportv channel.

Flamengo currently sits in 7th place in the standings with 26 points. The team, led by the red-and-black coaching staff, has suffered three negative results, two of which came in the semifinals of the Otávio Pinto Guimarães Tournament (OPG), against Fluminense.

Botafogo sits in 12th place with 22 points. The black-and-white team also comes under pressure after losing to Maricá in the second leg of the OPG semifinals. Despite the setback, Glorioso secured a spot in the state championship final on aggregate.

RECENT HISTORY

The Rio derby is crucial to both teams' ambitions in the final stretch of the first phase of the Brasileirão U-20. With only three rounds remaining in the qualifying phase, the teams are directly competing for a spot among the top eight, who advance to the quarterfinals.

In recent history, the under-20 teams have been evenly matched. Both teams boast promising young talent and are seeking to solidify projects that will fuel their professional squads in the coming years.

FIND OUT DETAILS ABOUT THE GAME

📌 Match details

Game: Flamengo vs Botafogo

Round: 17th of the Brazilian Under-20 Championship

Date and time: Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. (Brasília time)

Location: Luso-Brazilian Stadium, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

Broadcast: Sportv and Premiere

Arbitration:

Referee: Alan Trindade da Silva (RJ)

Assistant 1: Lucas Castro dos Santos (RJ)

Assistant 2: Ana Vitória Trindade Ferreira (RJ)