Fluminense secured a 3-1 victory against Flamengo in the Campeonato Carioca Sub-20 on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Ninho do Urubu, extending their unbeaten run to eight matches and claiming the top spot in the state standings under the management of former striker Fred.
The Tricolor entered the eighth round of the 2026 under-20 state championship with momentum under the 42-year-old icon, who took charge on July 21. Saturday’s result broke Flamengo’s unbeaten streak in the competition and pushed Fluminense to 22 points, leapfrogging their cross-town rivals into first place in the standings.
First-Half Dominance and Breno’s Opener
Fluminense controlled the match from the opening whistle at CT George Helal, limiting Flamengo’s attacking options throughout the first half. The visitors broke the deadlock in the 25th minute when midfielder Paulinho swung in a corner kick, allowing central defender Breno to rise and head past the home defense.
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Despite maintaining pressure through the remainder of the half, including a period following the official technical pause, the Tricolor maintained only a single-goal advantage as the teams headed to the locker rooms.
Second-Half Goals and Pitch Invasion
The pace picked up immediately after the interval. Fluminense doubled their lead when Arthur Ryan delivered a cross that Paulinho nodded into the path of Italo Vinicius, who finished cleanly to give the visitors a comfortable two-goal cushion.
Flamengo responded quickly through wide playmaker Douglas Telles, who carved out space down the right flank before setting up Diego Guimarães to score with a precise finish.
The match was settled in the 30th minute of the second half by midfielder Wesley Natã. After exchanging passes with Breno, Natã evaded two defenders and curled a shot into the upper corner of the net. The spectacular strike prompted Fred to rush onto the pitch to celebrate with the goalscorer, an action that resulted in a yellow card from the referee.
Fred’s Impressive Start as Manager
The victory highlights an exceptional beginning to Fred’s coaching career in Fluminense’s youth academy. Through his first eight matches in charge, the former Brazil international has guided the under-20 side to seven victories. The squad’s attacking output has proved particularly potent during this stretch, totaling 22 goals for an average of nearly three scores per fixture.
The encounter also drew notable figures from the club’s technical staff, with senior coach Marcão in attendance at the training ground to observe the academy prospects.
Fluminense will return to Campeonato Carioca Sub-20 action in the coming weeks as they defend their newly acquired position at the summit of the state table.
