Pedro shines, and Flamengo scores 3-0 to get very close to Carioca’s title | Flamengo

Carioca’s top scorer, Pedro left his mark in the first game of the final between Flamengo and Nova IguaçuGilvan de Souza

Published 03/30/2024 19:05

Flamengo is very close to celebrating the 38th Carioca Championship title. In yet another safe performance in defense, Rubro-Negro counted on the brilliance of Pedro, who scored two goals and participated in the third, scored against by Ronald, to beat Nova Iguaçu with enormous superiority, 3-0, this Saturday, at Maracanã, for the first game of the final.

With both hands on the cup, Rubro-Negro defeated the surprise of the competition and could lose next Sunday (7) by up to two goals difference and will be champion, after two runners-up in 2022 and 2023. And if the Baixada club returns the three goals from balance, the decision will go to penalties.

Penalty changes the course of the final

Despite Flamengo’s dominance, the game can be divided into two moments, which are separated by the penalty awarded by the referee, after Ayrton Lucas was touched, took a step forward and only then played. When Pedro converted and opened the scoring, in the 19th minute, Nova Iguaçu lost strength and the momentum that had been bothering them.

In the first minutes, Laranja Mecânica da Baixada had an open midfield to play as they liked, touching the ball to reach the edge of the area. Recently hired by Rubro-Negro, Carlinhos had the freedom to make two shots, which went wide.

However, after opening the scoring, Flamengo managed to control the first game of the final. He started to have the ball and prevent Nova Iguaçu from playing freely. Even without being brilliant, Tite’s team had the best chances, Fabrício saved Pedro’s deflection and, subsequently, Fabrício Bruno sent the ball onto the post. The Baixada team got scared with two shots from outside the area, from Xandinho and Yan Silva, which Rossi had to palm away.

Pedro enters Flamengo history in the second half

Pedro still had two opportunities to expand and make history. In the first, he stopped in a great save from Fabrício and, in the second, he scored, but the VAR ruled for offside in stoppage time of the first stage. But the center forward and top scorer in the Campeonato Carioca would have more chances and scored Flamengo’s 13,000th goal.

And to honor the relevant milestone, a beautiful move, which started with a throw from Luiz Araújo for Cebolinha to cross and Pedro to hit the back of the net, seven minutes into the second half. With the 2-0 built naturally, Flamengo once and for all controlled the match against a Nova Iguaçu team that was no longer able to play and that saw its highlights Yago, Carlinhos and Bill get lost in the strong pressing.

With the great advantage, Tite tried to save some players already thinking about their debut in the Libertadores, Tuesday (2), against Millionarios, in Colombia. De La Cruz, Pulgar and Everton Cebolinha left, but Pedro continued to be decisive once again.

This time, he was unable to shoot, but, after a confusing move in which he was between two markers, he saw Ronald try to take the ball and play towards his own goal. With 3-0 and both hands on the cup, Tite spared Arrascaeta and Luiz Araújo, without leaving Rubro-Negro comfortable.

The fourth goal didn’t come because Bruno Henrique stopped goalkeeper Fabrício at the end.

Nova Iguaçu 0 x3 Flamengo

Local: Maracanã (RJ).
Referee: Alex Gomes Stéfano (RJ).

Yellow cards: Albert, Igor Guilherme (NOV); Varela, Pulgar (FLA).

Goals: Pedro, at 19min in the 1st Q (0x1) and at 7min in the 2nd Q (0x2); Ronald, against at 31min of the 2nd Q (0x3).

New Iguaçu: Fabrício, Yan Silva, Gabriel Pinheiro, Sérgio Raphael (Ronald) and Maicon Esquerdinha (Sidney); Albert, Igor Guilherme (Fernandinho) and Yago Ferreira; Bill, Xandinho (Maxsuell Alegria) and Carlinhos; Coach: Carlos Vitor.

Flamengo: Rossi, Varela, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas; Pulgar (Igor Jesus), De La Cruz (Allan) and Arrasceta (Matheus Gonçalves); Luiz Araújo (Victor Hugo), Everton Cebolinha (Bruno Henrique) and Pedro. Coach: Tite.