📹 Flamengo hammer Mirassol away to seize top spot in Brasileirão | OneFootball

In the countryside of São Paulo state, Flamengo thrashed Mirassol 5-1 this Sunday (16) in the 23rd round of the 2026 Brasileirão.

As the score suggests, it was a walk in the park for the Rubro-Negro, who had no trouble at all on the pitch.

Before the midway point of the first half, Plata took advantage of goalkeeper Walter’s poor attempt to deal with a cross from the right and set up Carrascal to open the scoring.

With a mixed lineup due to the decisive Libertadores match in midweek, Flamengo simply controlled the game until halftime.

After the break, Carrascal kept running the Rio side.

The Colombian set up Luiz Araújo to make it two and ensure the game’s "former player rule" moment.

Without wasting any time, Carrascal played in Ayrton Lucas on the left, and the full-back crossed for Pedro to score the third.

And the Colombian attacking midfielder also led the decisive counterattack down the right and provided yet another assist, this time for Pedro to turn the win into a rout.

A few minutes after coming on, Arrascaeta set up Samuel Lino to score Flamengo’s fifth of the match.

And João Victor, making the most of Reinaldo’s corner into the six-yard box, pulled one back with a header for Mirassol.

🧐 There was controversy

Still in the first half, Carrascal was charging forward alone at pace when he was brought down by Mirassol’s Denílson.

Referee Rafael Klein chose only to show a yellow card to the São Paulo side’s midfielder.

The Nação showed all its outrage on social media over the referee’s decision.

🚦 How things stand

With their second straight win in the Brasileirão, Flamengo moved up to 45 points and closed right in on leaders Palmeiras (48 points).

However, the Rubro-Negro still have a game in hand, precisely against Mirassol, from the fourth round of the league, but the CBF has not yet set a date for the match to be played.

If they beat the São Paulo side, Flamengo will overtake Palmeiras at the top because, for now, they have the better goal difference (25 to 21).

At the bottom end of the table, Mirassol, who had not lost at home since April 11, when they were beaten 2-1 by Bahia in the 11th round, sit in a disappointing 16th place with 23 points.

The Rubro-Negro return to action next Wednesday (19), when they host Cruzeiro at the Maracanã in the second leg of the Libertadores round of 16 (first leg: 1-1).

Meanwhile, Leão Caipira travel to Quito, Ecuador, to face LDU on Thursday (20) in the same stage of the continental tournament (first leg: 1-1).

Featured photo: Disclosure/X Flamengo

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