Mind games? Del Valle forward plays down Flamengo loss, “all open” | OneFootball

Ecuadorian forward came on in the second half and highlighted the squad’s strength, even after the 2-0 defeat in Quito

Flamengo won the first leg of the quarterfinals 2-0 in Quito, Ecuador. Forward Djorkaeff Reasco, however, played down the red-and-black side’s advantage. That is because Independiente del Valle (ECU) can still qualify for the Copa Libertadores semifinals at the Maracanã.

What did Djorkaeff Reasco say after the defeat to Flamengo?

– In my view, everything is still open. We also have a great team, so we’ll go in with the same determination in search of this win. I feel this issue of altitude shouldn’t change anything -, said the center forward, who added:

– We’ve been going at a strong pace since January, with a tough run of matches, but the team is performing well and we hope everything works out -, he said in the mixed zone, and added:

– At the end of the day, we keep the same motivation, and that’s what gives us energy. It was wonderful, Atahualpa is a great stadium and the fans play together with the team. I really want to thank everyone who came here to support us -, he said.

How did Djorkaeff Reasco come on against Flamengo?

Djorkaeff Reasco replaced Carlos González, who picked up an injury during the match. Before the substitution, however, González himself had hit Flamengo’s post in Independiente del Valle’s most dangerous chance of the first half.

What is Flamengo’s home record this season?

Despite Reasco’s optimism, the record favors the Most Beloved, who have only two home defeats in 2026. The Rubro-Negro have already won 16 times at the Maracanã, in addition to four draws.

When is the second leg between Flamengo and Independiente del Valle?

The second leg between Flamengo and Independiente del Valle takes place on Thursday (17) at the Maracanã at 9:30 p.m. Brasília time. Even so, even with a possible defeat by up to one goal, Mengão would still secure a direct place in the Copa Libertadores semifinals.

When is Flamengo’s next Brasileirão match?

Before the Libertadores qualification decider, Flamengo face Corinthians this Sunday (13) at the Maracanã at 5:30 p.m. Brasília time. However, the match is valid for the 27th round of the Brazilian Championship, and the squad will have little rest time between the two fixtures.

What is the author’s opinion about Reasco’s statement?

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