Flamengo-Nacional: Liberators Cup

In a tense match, Flamengo oscillated from good and bad moments, but knew how to impose itself on National, with a successful 2-0 score resulting at Maracanã, for the Liberators Cup of the Americas.

The victory, constructed with two Marcinho goals, takes the rubro-black team to the leadership of group 4, with seven points.

National remains on six and falls to second place. The Peruvians Cienciano, with the same six points, are in third on goal difference. Bolognesi Colonel has only one point.

As expected, Flamengo was all for attack against a National team with ten men in their own half.  Therefore, the rubro-blacks had difficulties and missed passes in front of area. With Marcinho playing at the top-right and Juan playing well to the left, Flamengo tried to open the game using the flanks, but was inefficient in crossing.

The nervousness of the rubro-blacks was alliviated when Marcinho used to his advantage a touch off the head of Fábio Luciano and opened the scoring after getting past the goalie, in the 25th minute.

Losing, National at least tried to get out a little more, while Flamengo started to place the ball on the ground. Ibson almost scored in the 40th. minute, after a good play by Souza and Luizinho.

At the end of the first half, there was a scare as the team from Uruguay started fighting. Flamengo withdrew in the beginning of the second half and encouraged National to attack more.

Bad passing hindered the Brazilian counterattacks.  After an exchange of passes in the front of the area, Luizinho crossed well from the right, with 21 minutes in the second half, Juan headed on to the bar and the rebound was picked up by Marcinho and the opportunist once more placed it inside.

Calmer, and with a fall in rhythm by the Uruguayans, Flamengo came back to dominate the match, marking the exit  of the adversary, without haste to extend the lead but keeping the ball in the opponents half. Two nil it finished.

Flamengo: Bruno; Luizinho, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Cristian, Íbson, August Renato and Kléberson; Marcinho (Maxi) and Souza (Obina). National: Victorino, Barone and Romero; Óscar Morales, Arismendi, Cardaccio and Bertolo (Ligüera); Richard Morales and Fornalori (Vera). Ref: Carlos Amarilla . Public: 51.363 (47,096 payed), Net: R$1.081.079.