Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Flamengo – Athletico Paranaense – 0:3
In a surprising turnaround on Wednesday night, Athletico Paranaense secured a resounding 3-0 victory over Flamengo in a Campeonato Brasileiro match held in Cariacica, Espírito Santo.
The game started with a lively battle, but the Flamengo team, missing key players like Ayrton Lucas, Arrascaeta and Bruno Henrique, struggled to make an impact. David Luiz played as a defensive midfielder, while Thiago Maia took on the role of left-back.
It was Athletico who took advantage of the situation, with Matheus Cunha and his teammates creating several chances to score. The turning point came in the 28th minute, when Cacá scored after a series of deflections in the box, putting Athletico ahead.
After the break, Flamengo made substitutions in an attempt to regain control, but Athletico remained dominant, keeping possession and controlling the pace of the game. Flamengo’s problems were compounded when star player Gabigol received a red card in the 19th minute, leaving his team with ten players on the pitch. Straight red for rudeness.
Athletico sealed their victory with two more goals. Alex Santana took advantage of a defensive lapse to score in the 38th minute, and Vitor Bueno added the third goal in injury time, making it 3-0 from the penalty spot.
The result left Flamengo fans frustrated, and criticism was directed at coach Jorge Sampaoli. With this win, Athletico Paranaense picked up three crucial points, bringing their total to 37 in the Brazilian Championship. Flamengo’s attention now turns to the Copa do Brasil, where they face São Paulo on Sunday at the Maracanã in the first leg of the final. The decisive match will be played in Morumbi on September 24.
Internacional – São Paulo – 2:1
In the match of the 23rd round of the Brazilian Championship, São Paulo faced Internacional at the Beira-Rio stadium with high hopes, but ended up losing 2-1 to the home side.
São Paulo opened the scoring late in the first half when a defensive error by Internacional led to goalkeeper Keiller fouling Alisson in the box. Calleri converted the penalty to give São Paulo a 1-0 lead.
However, Internacional regrouped in the second half and managed to turn the game around. Right-back Fabricio Bustos equalized the score in the 13th minute with a powerful shot, and Renê’s spectacular long-range effort in the 24th minute secured Internacional’s 2-1 win.
With this result, São Paulo extended their winless streak in the Brasileirão to seven games and have yet to win away from home in the league. The team’s focus now turns to the Copa do Brasil, as they prepare for a crucial match against Flamengo in the Maracanã on Sunday.
On the other hand, Internacional ended a run of 10 games without a win and climbed to a provisional 10th place in the Campeonato Brasileiro. The team will have a week to prepare for the next match against Athletico, in the 24th round of the Campeonato Brasileiro.