Bruno Henrique decides, Flamengo beats Cusco and remains undefeated in the Libertadores
Flamengo defeated Cusco 3-0 this Tuesday (26), at Maracanã, in the clash valid for the sixth and final round of the group stage of the competition. Already classified, the red-and-black club ended its campaign at the top of Group A, with 16 points won.
After piling up chances throughout the match, Mengão scored their first goal just 35 minutes into the second half. Bruno Henrique took advantage of a leftover ball in the area to score a goal. Later, the attacker himself scored to increase the advantage. Lucas Paquetá, with a penalty, sealed the triumph.
With the result, Flamengo ended its participation in the group stage undefeated, with five wins and two draws, in addition to a positive balance of 12 goals.
The game
Favorite in the confrontation, Flamengo started the match by putting pressure on the opponent in search of their goal. At seven minutes, full-back Ayrton Lucas reached the baseline and rolled the ball to midfielder Nico de la Cruz. The Uruguayan hit first time and defender Carlos Gamarra saved on the line.
The hosts were in danger again only in the 25th minute, when midfielder Evertton Araújo hit the post with a shot from outside the area. Then, at 29, full-back Emerson Royal received a free kick, spun and sent it over the Peruvian goal.
Before the final whistle of the first half, Cusco had their first good start in the game. Winger Nicolás Silva filled the area at the edge of the area and forced goalkeeper Andrew to stretch out to make a good save. Flamengo, on the other hand, had a sequence of consecutive chances in stoppage time, but they all ended with goalkeeper Andy Vidal.
The home team returned from the break occupying the attacking field looking to take the score off the scoreboard. At the seven-minute mark, midfielder Saúl took a dangerous free kick and saw Andy Vidal make a beautiful save. Soon after, at 11, winger Luiz Araújo hit a left-handed shot and Vidal saved another.
Needing the result, coach Leonardo Jardim promoted the entry of Lucas Paquetá, Samuel Lino and Pedro in the second stage, in an attempt to raise the level of the attack. In the 29th minute, the center forward found a beautiful pass for Emerson Royal, who shot for a great save by Vidal. At 33, Pedro himself received a cross from the left and isolated a great opportunity in the small area.
After much insistence, Flamengo found the net at the 35-minute mark. Paquetá finished, Andy Vidal rebounded and Bruno Henrique took advantage of the surplus to make it 1-0. Afterwards, Bruno Henrique himself received the ball in the area and hit hard to extend the advantage.
Towards the end of the match, the referee awarded a penalty in favor of Mengão, after a handball from the Cusco defense. Paquetá went for the ball, displaced the goalkeeper and gave the final number to the red and black triumph: 3 to 0.
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Source: CNN