UNTIL NEXT YEAR
With the goal, the center forward finished the competition as top scorer in the Brazilian Championship; Janderson scored Leão’s second goal
Published on December 8, 2024 at 6:05 pm
Alerrandro scored his 15th goal against Flamengo Credit: Victor Ferreira/EC Vitória
Farewells always mean the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. This Sunday (8), in the last match of the season, Vitória went to Maracanã to say goodbye to 2024 and start aiming for a new year in the first division. On the field, Leão did not disappoint and drew with Flamengo 2-2. Leão’s goals were scored by Alerrandro and Janderson, while Gabigol and Ayrton Lucas left everything the same.
With the result, Vitória reaches 47 points, but remains in the same position as the Brasileirão, as Vasco won the clash against Cuiabá. With no further commitments during the season, the Leão squad reaches the end of the year with a sense of duty accomplished, having managed to remain in the first division and even reach higher heights. In the coming days, Bahian fans will know who is still there and who wore the Vitória shirt for the last time this Sunday (8).
For the last time in 2024, Vitória entered the field without Neris and Matheuzinho. Coach Thiago Carpini then needed to return to the scheme with three midfielders to take advantage of the pieces at his disposal. If Leão reached the game without the risk of relegation and with guaranteed classification in the Copa Sudamericana, the 38th round was synonymous with comfort. Meanwhile, for the Cariocas, the confrontation was the farewell to striker Gabigol after six years.
With the “handbrake on”, both teams were in no rush to speed up the match. Patience in constructing the plays occurred both in Carpini’s team and with Filipe Luís’ men. This attitude from the players created a “hearty” game, with a friendly atmosphere. Despite the passivity, attacks occurred frequently, but with a greater volume for the home team.
The calmness in defining the plays allowed Vitória to maintain focus within the match. In the 15th minute of the first half, Carlos Eduardo received the ball on the left wing and watched Alerrandro move between the Rio de Janeiro defense duo. The player made a throw into the area and the number nine stepped forward to take out the goalkeeper and open the scoring at Maracanã.
Urubu started to have more control of the ball, but failed to define the plays. The red-black team from Rio even managed to gain an advantage on the left side of the Bahian team, but the lack of offensive inspiration was decisive for the score to be maintained. In the end, Carpini’s men were successful in maintaining an objective stance and went into the break without conceding a goal.
After the break, the low pace continued among the 22 players on the field. Flamengo went up the lines and suffocated the visitors inside their own area. The Cariocas’ strategy left Leão with more opportunities to take advantage of counterattacks, but at the same time left Carpini’s team exposed to Urubu’s offensive.
It was in this way that the home team took advantage of the quality of their squad to reach a draw. In the 13th minute of the final stage, Pulgar found a pass in the middle of the Bahian goal for striker Gabigol. On a farewell afternoon, the honoree finished first time to leave everything the same.
The opponent’s draw did not change Leão’s mentality at all, as they remained focused on taking advantage of Flamengo’s mistakes with the speed of the wingers. That’s how, at 29, Janderson took the ball on the left and left Léo Ortíz missing. Then, the striker cut to the middle and sent a strong shot into the net, with no chance for Rossi. Five minutes later, it was Ayrton Lucas’s turn to pull to the right and level the match again.
If the beginning of the game gave the impression that the 90 minutes would not be productive, the feeling at the end of the match is that there was no lack of emotion for Vitória and Flamengo, even in a farewell atmosphere. With the final whistle, the desire for 2025 to bring even more achievements remains in the minds of Vitória fans, but without the “roller coaster” part of emotions.
Technical Sheet
Flamengo 2 x 2 Vitória – Brazilian Championship (38th round)
Flemish: Rossi; Wesley, Léo Ortíz, David Luiz and Ayrton Lucas; Erick Pulgar, Gerson and Evertton Araújo (De la Cruz); Bruno Henrique (Michael), Gonzalo Plata (Luiz Araújo) and Gabigol (Alcaraz). Technical: Filipe Luís.
Victory: Lucas Archangel; Cáceres, Edu, Wagner Leonardo and Lucas Esteves; Ricardo Ryller (Caio Vinícius), Willian Oliveira (Luan Santos) and Machado (Léo Naldi); Gustavo Silva (Janderson), Carlos Eduardo (Willean Lepo) and Alerrandro. Technical: Thiago Carpini.
Goals: Alerrandro, 15 minutes into the first half; Gabigol, at 13, Janderson, at 29, and Ayrton Lucas, at 34 minutes of the second half;
Yellow card: Edu and Carlos Eduardo (Vitória);
Arbitration: Lucas Casagrande (PR), assisted by Neuza Ines Back (SP) and Victor Hugo Imazu dos Santos Araújo (PR)
