Flamengo got the better of Atlético-MG with a 3-1 victory in the first game of the Copa do Brasil final at Maracanã. Arrascaeta opened the scoring and Gabigol scored twice for Flamengo. Alan Kardec reduced the score for the miners in the final minutes. Next Sunday (10), in the return game of the final in Belo Horizonte, the Rio team will win the fifth championship even if they lose 1-0. Galo needs to at least win by two goals difference to take the decision to the penalty spot of penalties. The team from Minas Gerais is fighting for its third title of the tournament.
A predestined afternoon, @Flemish! 🔴⚫️
With goals from Arrascaeta and Gabigol, Rubro-Negro leads 3✖️1 against Atlético-MG in the final of #CopaBetanoDoBrasil!
What a game! Next Sunday there’s more! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/qjjTvd1s93
— Copa do Brasil (@CopaDoBrasilCBF) November 3, 2024
The game had barely started, and Flamengo goalkeeper Rossi prevented Gustavo Scarpa’s accurate shot from outside the box from opening the scoring for Galo at Maracanã. But the Minas Gerais team’s momentum stopped there. At 10 minutes, Gerson comes out with the ball, launches Wesley, who advances alone through midfield until he rolls for Gabigol to finish. Goalkeeper Everson palmed it, and on the rebound, Arrascaeta sent it into the back of the goal, opening the scoring at Maracanã.
Better positioned on the field and taking advantage of a flaw in Galo’s defense, Rubro-Negro began to control the game. In the 28th minute, Léo Pereira almost made it big when he shot from midfield, but an attentive Everson palmed it out. Ten minutes later, Gerson launched the ball from the right in midfield, Plata subtly headed the ball for Gabigo to advance alone and extend the lead for the Cariocas by shooting past goalkeeper Everson.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL! IT’S HIS! DRAGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! #FLAxCAM # VamosFlamengo pic.twitter.com/FYeKV4d56P
— Flamengo (@Flamengo) November 3, 2024
After the break, Atlético-MG started to put pressure on: in the 11th minute they almost lost it, after a cross from Hulk to Alonso who headed to the ground, but the ball went close to the post and didn’t go in. The game continued with little technical quality on both sides, until in the 28th minute: Zaracho lost the ball in midfield and the red-black striker Alcaraz took advantage of the hesitation to launch Gabigol, who fired a shot across the field, making it 3 Flamengo’s advantage is 0. Then, in the 34th minute, Zaracho redeems himself: he throws the ball to Alan Kardec inside the area. The Galo striker, who had just left the bench, also counted on defender Léo Ortiz’s mistake to finish, reducing the deficit on the scoreboard. Motivated after the first goal, Atlético-MG suffocated Flamengo in the final minutes with corner kicks, but without success. The game ended with a 3-1 victory for Flamengo.
