Flamengo did their part in the 15th round of the Brazilian Championship, taking advantage of Palmeiras’ slip to close the gap in the standings. On Sunday, the Rio side secured a 1-0 victory over Gremio at the Arena in Porto Alegre, moving closer to the top of the table.
With the result, Rubro-Negro moved to 30 points—four less than Palmeiras, who drew with Remo in the round. The two teams still have a direct clash scheduled for the 17th round, which could shake up the battle for the lead before the World Cup break. Meanwhile, Gremio find themselves in a tough spot, slipping into the relegation zone with 17 points.
The first half was lively, with Flamengo taking control from the start. They pressed high, created numerous chances, and hit the woodwork twice through Plata and Carrascal. On the other end, Gremio looked to respond on the counterattack and caused some danger in isolated moments, including a goal-line clearance by Leo Pereira after a defensive error.
In the second half, Flamengo maintained their intensity, chasing the opener. Early on, Samuel Lino had a great chance when he went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but was denied by a solid save from Weverton. The persistence paid off in the 22nd minute, as Emerson Royal found space on the right and set up Carrascal, who fired home first-time to break the deadlock.
After the goal, the Rio side controlled the match with possession and organization, while Gremio struggled to mount a response. Bruno Henrique nearly added a second, attempting to chip Weverton, but the goalkeeper was again equal to the effort.
The atmosphere in the stands reflected Gremio’s current struggles. Home fans showed their frustration with whistles and protests, while Flamengo comfortably managed their lead until the final whistle.
In the next round, Gremio will face Bahia on Sunday at 4:00 PM at Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador. On the same day at 7:30 PM, Flamengo will visit Athletico-PR at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba.
TECHNICAL DETAILS:
GRÊMIO 0 X 1 FLAMENGO
GRÊMIO – Weverton; Pavón (Braithwaite), Gustavo Martins, Balbuena, Viery, and Pedro Gabriel (Caio Paulista); Leonel Pérez (Tiaguinho), Noriega, and Gabriel Mec; Carlos Vinícius and Amuzu (Enamorado). Coach: Luis Castro.
FLAMENGO – Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, and Ayrton Lucas (Emerson Royal); Evertton Araújo, Jorginho, and Carrascal (De la Cruz); Plata (Luiz Araújo), Pedro (Bruno Henrique), and Samuel Lino. Coach: Leonardo Jardim.
GOALS – Carrascal, at 22 minutes of the second half.
YELLOW CARDS – Pavón (Grêmio); Evertton Araújo, Jorginho, and Pedro (Flamengo).
REFEREE – Davi de Oliveira Lacerda (ES).
INCOME – R$ 2,169,784.49.
ATTENDANCE – 30,891 fans.
VENUE – Arena do Grêmio, in Porto Alegre (RS).
