Bruno Henrique and Arrascaeta scored the goals that sealed the Rubro-Negro triumph
O Flemish He was not intimidated by the altitude of just over 3,350 meters in Cusco, Peru. With a good game, knowing how to measure strength and intensity, without suffocating, the Rio team beat Cusco 2-0 on Wednesday (8), at the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium, in its debut in Libertadores. Bruno Henrique and Arrascaeta were the scorers of the goals.
Current champion, Flamengo transformed the adverse factor into attitude. The technical quality was clearly superior to the opponent, who, even with the altitude in his favor, little bothered the Rio defense during the match. Leonardo Jardim still finished the match, being able to make one more substitution.
The winning goal came on a counterattackwith Ayrton Lucas receiving the ball on the left and crossing to the right Bruno Henrique scores with a header. In additions, Arrascaeta crowned Rio’s good match at altitude. In addition to imposing themselves, Flamengo also counted on luck, when, in the few moments they suffered, Cusco had a goal disallowed for offside.
With the three points, the four-time champion started at the front in Group AOnce again, another key duel, between Independiente de Medellín-COL and Estudiantes-ARG, ended in a 1-1 tie.
What could have been an adverse factor, Flamengo managed to cope well at altitude and controlled the match in the first stage. With a good approach between the midfield and the attack, the team already showed what the team’s attitude would be. With a good exchange of passes, when opening space, the order was to finish on goal. Plata and Paquetá were in danger after less than ten minutes.
Cusco didn’t score strongly, I waited for Rio’s fatigue to set in and it only gave Rossi trouble onceon a kick from Silva. Flamengo continued to create chances, but little by little they felt the effects of the altitude, with the ball running too much and passes being stronger than normal. Paquetá was the most used and even forced good saves from the Peruvian goalkeeper in the final stretch.
In the second half, Cusco tried to print its game volumeoccupied the attacking field and only failed to score thanks to Evertton Araújo’s providential block on Callejo’s shot. Then came the Flemish relief. In a counterattack, Ayrton Lucas crossed to the right Bruno Henrique heads and scores in the 13th minute. To increase Rio’s fortunes, Cusco had a goal disallowed shortly afterwards, due to offside.
After the scare, Flamengo continued exchanging passes and wasting time. Even so, they were still in more danger than the home team and Plata almost did not expand. The situation was so peaceful that Leonardo Jardim only changed the team at 40with the entry of Arrascaeta, Pedro and Léo Ortiz. With more breath, it became easier to trap the ball in attack and, in a new counterattack, Arrascaeta, at 48, crowned the good game at altitude.
Flamengo now becomes the key to the Brazilian Championship, where it faces nothing more than the classic Fla-Flu, against rival Fluminense, on Saturday (11), at 6:30 pmat Maracanã. For the Libertadores, the team returns to the field next Thursday (16)at 9:30 pm, when he makes his debut at Maracanã, against Independiente de Medellín-COL.
TECHNICAL SHEET
CUSCO-PER 0 × 2 FLAMENGO
CUSCO: Pedro Díaz; Ruidías, Fuentes, Ampuero e Bolívar (Zevallos); Diego Soto (Colman), Valenzuela e Colitto (Manzaneda); Carabajal (Tévez), Callejo and Nicolás (Herrera). Technician: Alejandro Orfila.
FLEMISH: Rossi; Emerson Royal, Danilo, Léo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas; Evertton Araújo, De la Cruz (Léo Ortiz) and Lucas Paquetá (Arrascaeta); Plata, Bruno Henrique (Pedro) and Carrascal (Luiz Araújo). Coach: Leonardo Jardim.
GOALS: Bruno Henrique at 13 and Arrascaeta at 48 minutes of the second half.
ARBITRATOR: Derlis López (PAR).
YELLOW CARDS: Fuentes and Manzaneda.
INCOME AND AUDIENCE: Not available.
LOCAL: Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium, in Cusco (PER).
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