Pedro hails Flamengo squad, assesses own display v Cruzeiro | OneFootball

Number 9 provided both assists for Flamengo’s two goals

It went as expected! Flamengo beat Cruzeiro 2-1 in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores Round of 16 last Wednesday (19). As a result, the Rubro-Negro side advanced in the South American competition. Even though he didn’t find the net, Pedro played extremely well and provided both assists for Flamengo’s goals.

After securing qualification, Pedro spoke from the heart about the good run he is enjoying at Flamengo. In addition, the player heaped praise on the Rubro-Negro squad. Finally, the number 9 analyzed Flamengo’s second-half performance and reinforced the club’s greatness.

What did Pedro say?

— I’m happy to be able to put in another great performance with the whole team. We know the quality Flamengo’s squad has. We’re going to need everyone, with the Libertadores and the Brasileirão ahead. The squad is very good. Every game shows that whoever comes in has to be ready to deliver. Everyone who played today did very well from the first minute. We dropped off a little at the start of the second half, but then we recovered and showed the greatness of this team. Now we have to keep working for more and for more achievements, he said, before adding:

— I’m very happy to help the team, not only with goals but also with assists. Today was a game in which I dropped deeper a lot to pass the ball and build plays in midfield. That gave the wingers freedom to attack space, Arrascaeta too… Everything worked out. A great match, not just from me, but from the whole team, concluded the number 9.

How did Flamengo qualify in the Libertadores?

First of all, Flamengo and Cruzeiro went into the second leg with everything still open at the Maracanã, since the first leg had ended in a 1-1 draw. Playing in front of a packed home crowd, Flamengo opened the scoring after a one-two between Pedro and Arrascaeta.

In short, in the 35th minute of the first half, the number 10 burst forward through the middle and found Pedro in the box. Then the ‘9 Bolado’ laid it back first time without controlling it, allowing the Uruguayan to haunt his former club and put Flamengo ahead.

After the break, Cruzeiro equalized through Lucas Romero. However, Flamengo responded in the 20th minute of the second half with Samuel Lino. Pedro provided another first-time assist for the number 16, who sent a defender to the ground and blasted the ball past Otávio. Final score: 2-1 to Fla!

What is Flamengo’s next match?

Now Flamengo will face Cruzeiro again for the second time in a row in three days. That is because the teams will meet in the 24th round of the Brazilian Championship. The match takes place on Saturday (22) at Mineirão in Belo Horizonte, starting at 8:30 p.m. (Brasília time).

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