Flamengo triumphs over Bragantino in a thrilling match at Maracanã, closing in on leader Palmeiras by just 2 points. Botafogo draws with Fortaleza at Castelão, reaching 61 points but missing the chance to seize the lead.
With the completion of postponed matches, all teams are now on an equal number of games.
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Index
Flamengo 1×0 Bragantino
In the battle for the Brasileirão title, Flamengo and Bragantino engaged in a high-quality match at Maracanã. Bragantino started stronger in the first half, creating dangerous opportunities with the full-back Juninho Capixaba, but later, Flamengo leveled the contest.
At the 5th minute, Vitinho delivered a closed corner, and Juninho Capixaba headed at the near post, but Rossi made the save.
At the 11th minute, Matheus Fernandes provided an excellent pass to Juninho Capixaba on the left side of the box. The full-back took a first-time shot but missed the target.
At the 16th minute, Aderlan crossed to the far post, and Vitinho headed over the goal.
Flamengo responded at the 25th minute. Matheuzinho crossed, Everton Cebolinha rose behind Aderlan and headed over the crossbar.
At the 30th minute, Aderlan missed a great opportunity. Lucas Evangelista quickly took a free-kick, Aderlan won the duel with Leo Pereira, found himself one-on-one with Rossi but missed the target.
At the 41st minute, Cebolinha unleashed a long-range shot, and Cleiton parried. In the rebound, Pedro attempted a header, but the ball deflected off Leo Ortiz and went for a corner. Arrascaeta took the corner at the near post, Cebolinha flicked it, and Cleiton made a good save.
In the 5th minute of the second half, Cebolinha made a brilliant play and crossed to Leo Pereira. The defender attempted a volley, and the ball narrowly missed the post.
At the 11th minute, Massa Bruta orchestrated a good team play. Juninho Capixaba reached the byline and delivered a great pass to Lucas Evangelista in the area, but the midfielder mishit the ball, sending it wide.
At the 19th minute, Bragantino had the best chance of the game. Mosquera provided a beautiful cross, and Sasha hit the crossbar. On the rebound, Hurtado found himself one-on-one with Rossi in the small area but blazed over while attempting the finish.
At the 29th minute, Arrascaeta performed magic to electrify Maracanã. The Uruguayan combined with Pulgar, received the ball inside the box, advanced, and chipped it, hitting the post, then Cleiton, and went in.
At the 31st minute, Bruno Henrique received a pass from Pedro inside the box, controlled, and shot. The ball deflected off the defense, but Cleiton managed to make the save.
Photo: André Durão / ge
At the 38th minute, Luan Cândido struck a powerful free-kick from the middle of the field. Rossi parried, and Braga couldn’t secure the rebound.
At the 41st minute, Borbas committed a foul and was subsequently expelled. The referee claimed to have been verbally abused by the Uruguayan forward.
With the victory, Flamengo firmly enters the title race, occupying the 3rd position, while Bragantino remains stagnant in the table, having not won in the last 3 matches, dropping to the 5th position.
Photo: Marcelo Cortes/Flamengo
Fortaleza 2×2 Botafogo
Before the round, Botafogo was the only team that relied solely on itself to become champion. However, with the draw against Fortaleza at Castelão, leader Palmeiras is now the only team that controls its destiny.
At the 5th minute, Eduardo took a dangerous free-kick, hitting the net on the outside.
Fortaleza opened the scoring at the 8th minute. Caio Alexandre provided a spectacular pass to Calebe, who crossed to Yago Pikachu at the far post for a simple tap-in.
At the 15th minute, Pikachu crossed to Lucero, who attempted to redirect the header and narrowly missed.
Botafogo leveled with a bizarre own goal by Brítez at the 20th minute. Tiquinho Soares was launched into the area and laid it off to the center. Alone, Brítez tried to head it out for a corner but ended up scoring an own goal.
Glorioso nearly took the lead at the 30th minute. Eduardo took a free-kick, Adryelson deflected with his thigh, hitting the post. On the rebound, the ball hit the defender again but was easy for João Ricardo to save.
Fortaleza scored their second goal at the 41st minute. Calebe received on the right, shifted past the defense, and delivered a perfect cross for Guilherme, unmarked, to score.
Photo: Kid Jr./SVM
Intensity dropped significantly after the break, with very few dangerous moments in the second half.
Botafogo equalized at the 33rd minute. Tchê Tchê took a corner, Danilo Barbosa rose and headed strongly. João Ricardo touched the ball, but couldn’t prevent the goal.
Photo: Vítor Silva/ BFR
At the 48th minute, Tinga passed to Yago Pikachu, who delivered a powerful cross from the right wing, but no one managed to convert, and the ball went out for a throw-in.
With the draw, Botafogo loses the chance to rely on its own efforts to be the Brazilian champion, while Fortaleza still faces a small risk of relegation.
Written by Henry Miller.