Less than 24 hours after Botafogo surprises Paris Saint-Germain from France, another Brazilian team led to the best of a European power at the International Football Federation (FIFA) World Cup. This Friday (20), Flamengo beat Chelsea from England 3-1 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The red-black went to 6 points and leads group D, with 3 ahead of the blues (as the English are known). Still this Friday, at 19h (Brasília time), the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), from the United States, and Tunisia, play at Geodis Park in Nashville, completing the second round of the key. If the match ends tied, the Brazilian club not only guarantees classification to the quarterfinals, but also ensures the first position.
Coach Filipe Luís climbed Flamengo with three changes compared to the team that defeated Sperance 2-0 at the World Cup debut. In defense, Wesley and Danilo took the places of Guillermo Varela and Leo Ortiz, respectively, while in the attack, Gonzalo Plata was chosen to replace Bruno Henrique.
The red-black team had 63% ball possession, five corner kicks (against one of the opponent) and was present in the Chelsea area for most of the first half, but found it difficult to kick in danger.
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More objective, the English team has finished as many times to goal as the cariocas (five each), but managed to swing the nets taking advantage of a fool between Erick Pulgar and Wesley. The ball left with Pedro Neto, who fired toward the goal and hit the exit of Agustín Rossi.
Flamengo’s best chance in the initial 45 minutes appeared at 42. After a foul charged on the right by Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Gerson appeared free near the left post and hit first, but Levi Cowell saved on the line what would be the equalizer.
Flamengo maintained the aggressive posture in the second half and had a great opportunity at 8 minutes. Launched by Rossi, Gerson took advantage of Reece James’s mistake in an attempt to cut, entered the area, dribbled Cowell and hit. James recovered and managed to divert the leftover kick to Plata, without a goalkeeper. The striker, however, could not finish.
At ten, Philip Luís exchanged Arrascaeta for Bruno Henrique. The change did not take time to have an effect. Six minutes later, the striker appeared in the area after Gerson’s cross and platform, and sent to the nets, equaling the scoring. At 19, it was Bruno Henrique’s turn to be a “waiter”, setting the corner kick to Danilo, in the small area, to complete the scorer.
The English mission was more complicated after 22 minutes with the expulsion of Nicolas Jackson (who had entered the field 4 minutes before) after a hard foul in Ayrton Lucas. With numerical superiority, Flamengo took control of the game once and for all and still expanded the advantage. At 37, Wallace Yan and Plata Table, entered the area and the ball left for the young 20 -year -old striker to finish and give the duel final numbers.
Both teams return to the field on Tuesday (22) at 22h. Flamengo, near the classification, faces LAFC at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, while Chelsea takes Esperánce, again at Lincoln Financial Field.
