Author: Barkha Roy
Flamengo – Grêmio – 1:0
Flamengo have already beaten Grêmio three times this season, with a total score of 6-0. In the first round of the championship at home – 3:0,
then in the first leg of the Cup semi-final away from home – 2:0.
In the second leg of the Cup, Grêmio again failed to score with the “rubro-negro”. The match was played at the Estadio Jornalista Mário Filho, popularly known as Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro.
Flamengo came into this match after a 1-1 draw with São Paulo in their most recent game
. A first-half goal from Lucas Moura, the former Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur striker who now plays for São Paulo, was countered by a penalty from Flamengo striker Pedro at the end of the second half.
On the other hand
Gremio managed a 2-1 win over Fluminense in their last match
. Goals from midfielder Bitello and striker Ferreira ensured Grêmio’s success. Fluminense’s only goal was scored by Argentinian striker German Cano.
Despite the conflict in training, when Gerson broke Varena’s nose, both players were included in Flamengo’s starting line-up. Although Varela only played 36 minutes, pulling the back of his thigh.
In the first half, there was a lot of fighting on the pitch, sometimes very hard. But the opponents didn’t score. The hosts were satisfied with that scoreline, and Gremio needed to score at least one goal before half-time. In the 31st minute, Bitelo had that chance. He went one-on-one, but Matheus Cunha deflected his shot for a corner.
In the first fifteen minutes of the second half, Gremio could and should have changed the course of the game. The defenders cleared the ball off the goal line after a Suárez shot. The goalkeeper then saved the Uruguayan’s shot. Then he didn’t let Bitelo score, and Ferreira, after beating the defender, shot from the penalty spot at the far post…
In the 74th minute, Rodrigo Eli scored a handball, disputing the ball over the top. After studying the video replay, the referee awarded a penalty, which was scored by Georgian de Arrascaeta – 1:0.
Everyone knew that Gremio couldn’t score three goals in 15 minutes. In the 81st minute, Rodrigo Eli scored, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
In the final, Flamengo will play São Paulo (September 17 and 24). The teams have previously met twice in the Copa do Brasil, and more recently.
- In 2020, São Paulo won the quarter-finals: 2-1 away and 3-0 at home (but lost to Grêmio in the semi-finals).
- Flamengo got their revenge last season by beating São Paulo in the 1/2 finals: 3-1 away and 1-0 at home. Flamengo reached the final against Corinthians 0-0 (away) and 1-1 (home), winning the title on penalties 6-5.