Author: Soorya G
Flamengo coach Jorge Sampaoli praised his team for their strong personality in the
2-0 win over Gremio on foreign soil
. A scintillating performance on Wednesday night in Porto Alegre put the Cariocas very close to another Copa do Brasil final.
“The soccer on show outweighed the two-goal difference. The team played with the mentality of semi-finalists, carrying the responsibility of securing victory as if they were the hosts, and overcame Gremio in magnificent fashion“, emphasized the coach, with evident satisfaction.
“While we must value the result, it’s equally vital to recognize the exceptional way in which the team behaved,” added a jubilant Jorge Sampaoli.
Despite the win, Flamengo must have identified areas for improvement, having missed three great chances in the first leg. This included a penalty missed by striker Gabriel Barbosa, who squandered the chance to score twice. The miss could have been costly, but an own goal from Bruno Alves and the sending off of Walter Kannemann worked in Flamengo’s favor. Paraguayan midfielder Mathias Villasanti also had a golden chance to put the hosts ahead, but he didn’t do much to challenge Matheus Cunha.
However, Gremio cannot yet be considered out of contention, given their position in the Brasileirão. Gremio are hoping that players like Bitello, Villasanti and legend Luis Suárez will step up when it matters most and help them recover in the second leg. Interestingly, reports have emerged that Suárez will remain at the club until at least the end of the year, despite his links with Inter Miami.
For the second leg against Gremio at the Maracanã, Flamengo can afford to concede a goal to their opponents and still secure their place in the prestigious Copa do Brasil final. The long-awaited match is scheduled for August 16.