De La Cruz clears Cusco hurdle, wins Jardim favour after Flamengo win | OneFootball

How did De La Cruz perform in Flamengo vs Cusco (PER) in the Libertadores?

Flamengo had a few reasons to celebrate in the 2-0 win over Cusco (PER) in their opening match of the Libertadores. One of them was the performance of De La Cruz, who handled the 3,400-meter altitude well and stood out in the Rubro-Negro side’s win in Peru.

Amid the absences of Jorginho and Erick Pulgar, De La Cruz partnered Evertton Araújo in defensive midfield. Throughout the match, the Uruguayan looked comfortable on the pitch and was actively involved in Flamengo’s midfield movement.

At times, De La Cruz was frequently close to the Cusco box, looking to combine with the team’s attackers. On other occasions, however, he also contributed a lot defensively by winning the ball back during attacks from the Peruvian side.

It is important to note that De La Cruz had been considered doubtful for the match against Cusco due to the conditions he usually faces in high-altitude games. However, after being cleared by the club’s Medical Department, the number 18 played, stood out, and coped well with the thin air, as he was only substituted in the closing stages of the match.

WHAT DID LEONARDO JARDIM SAY ABOUT DE LA CRUZ’S PERFORMANCE IN FLAMENGO VS CUSCO?

After the match, coach Leonardo Jardim was asked what he thought of De La Cruz’s performance. In his response, the manager made a point of praising the Uruguayan and highlighting how important he is to the squad.

“As for Nico, he is a box-to-box midfielder, very intelligent, understands the game’s duels, and is an international-level player. He will certainly help us whenever he is called upon”, said Leonardo Jardim in the post-match press conference.

HOW DID FLAMENGO VS CUSCO GO IN THE COPA LIBERTADORES?

With De La Cruz available, Flamengo beat Cusco 2-0, with goals from Bruno Henrique and Arrascaeta. As a result, the Rubro-Negro side sits alone at the top of Group A with three points. Next come Independiente Medellín (COL) and Estudiantes (ARG) with one point each, while the Peruvian team remains on zero.

WHAT IS FLAMENGO’S NEXT MATCH?

After opening their Libertadores campaign with a win, Flamengo now turns the page and focuses on the next challenge ahead. This Saturday (11), Mengo takes the field to face Fluminense in the Brasileirão. Kickoff is at 6:30 PM (Brasília time) at the Maracanã. In this way, Coluna do Fla TV will bring all the details of the match on YouTube, as well as on the website and social media.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.