Flamengo secured another victory in the Campeonato Carioca, triumphing 2-0 over Sampaio Corrêa-RJ at the Mangueirão stadium in Belém. The red-black team, with goals from Bruno Henrique and Gabriel Barbosa in the first half, displayed dominance from the start.
Coach Tite strategically rested key starters like Pedro and Éverton Cebolinha, along with Fabrício Bruno and Varella, looking ahead to the upcoming clash against Vasco. Gabigol seized the opportunity, ending a 16-match goal drought for Flamengo since August 20th of the previous year.
The win rejuvenates Flamengo’s standing in the championship, placing them fifth on the table with eight points, and a game in hand compared to Botafogo and Nova Iguaçu. Sampaio Corrêa, despite the loss, holds onto the second spot with just one additional point.
In the first half, Flamengo pressed relentlessly. Bruno Henrique capitalized on a free kick at the ninth minute, taking advantage of a goalkeeper error. The attacking prowess continued with Erick Pulgar hitting the crossbar at 13, and Gabriel Barbosa securing the second goal at 42, ending his scoring drought since August.
Foto: Marcelo Cortes / CRF / Esporte News Mundo
The second half saw Tite experimenting with substitutions, bringing in Luiz Araújo and Allan for Gerson and Erick Pulgar. Although the pace slowed, Flamengo maintained control. Late in the game, Luiz Araújo had a chance thwarted by the goalkeeper at 35, and despite fans wanting Pedro on the field, Tite introduced Matheus Gonçalves for Arrascaeta in stoppage time.
This victory serves as a morale boost for Flamengo, recovering from recent stumbles, and positions them favorably in the Campeonato Carioca. The anticipation builds for the upcoming classic against Vasco on Sunday at Maracanã, where Flamengo aims to continue their winning streak and solidify their standing in the competition.
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