With Arturo Vidal adding important minutes, Flamengo overcame Corinthians in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals.
Flamengo surprised this Tuesday also the Brazilian Corinthianswith a 0-2 away win, and took a step forward to qualify for the semi-final of the Libertadores Cup.
Arturo Vidal entered at 71 minutes for the ‘Mengao’thus returning to play the most important club tournament on the continent following 15 years.
The Uruguayan Giorgian De Arrascaeta and the scorer Gabriel Barbosa “Gabigol” sentenced the victory of the team from Rio de Janeiro in the first game of the duel between the two most popular teams in Brazil and which was played in Sao Paulo.
The first goal play was for the local team, led by the Portuguese Vítor Pereira, following a combination between Maycon and Yuri Alberto, in which Gustavo Mosquito demanded goalkeeper Santos, champion with Brazil at the Tokyo Olympics.
Then came Flamengo’s response with an arrival from Pedro that was defended by goalkeeper Cassio. In the sequence, Yuri Alberto and Mosquito approached the goal once more to the Paulistas and De Arrascaeta to the Cariocas.
At 17 minutes, Maycon left due to injury and gave way to the Argentine Fausto Vera at Corinthians.
In the 36th minute, following an error in the exit of the Colombian Víctor Cantillo, De Arrascaeta took advantage and with a powerful shot opened the scoring for the visiting teamcommanded by Dorival Júnior.
???????????? What a goal, Giorgian! De Arrascaeta opened the scoring for @Flamengo contra @Corinthians with this shot placed at the far post. #Eternal Glory pic.twitter.com/kgwQelG51F
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@Libertadores) August 3, 2022
In the second half, Flamengo did not allow Corinthians to settle in and quickly, following 50 minutes, the winger Rodinei beat Vera and his center was capitalized by ‘Gabigol’, who defined Cassio without any problem.
????⚽️ Gabi was on fire! Oriented control and left foot to place for the second goal of @Flamengo ante @Corinthians by CONMEBOL #Liberators. #Eternal Glory pic.twitter.com/XYWm5kgrTR
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@Libertadores) August 3, 2022
Corinthians tried to react with Róger Guedes and Lucas Pitón, but Flamengo, despite the advantage, did not let their guard down on offense and with Éverton Ribeiro and David Luiz they were regarding to widen.
The Chilean Arturo Vidal and the catcher Éverton Cebolinha, who was regarding to score the third goal, acted in the final minutes in Flamengo.
The second leg will be played on Tuesday of next week at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Flamengo’s stronghold, which remains undefeated in the current edition of the Libertadores.
