Flamengo beat Vasco 1-0 at Maracanã amid refereeing controversy | OneFootball

Flamengo defeated Vasco 1-0 on Wednesday night (21), at Maracanã, in a match valid for the third round of the Campeonato Carioca. The classic, one of the most traditional in Brazilian football, was decided with a goal by Carrascal in the second half and was marked by a controversial expulsion that generated many complaints from the Vasco side.

Needing a victory after an irregular start in the state championship, Flamengo entered the field under pressure and sought to impose themselves from the first minutes. Vasco, on the other hand, opted for a more cautious stance, trying to exploit counterattacks and the good form of goalkeeper Léo Jardim, one of the team's highlights in the match.

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The first half was dominated by Flamengo. Driven by more than 60,000 fans at Maracanã, the red-black team controlled ball possession, pressed high, and created several goal opportunities. Flamengo had 14 shots compared to just one from Vasco in the first 45 minutes, highlighting the superiority of the team led by their coach.

Despite the intense pressure, the score remained goalless in the initial stage thanks to the great performance of Léo Jardim. The Vasco goalkeeper made at least five important saves, some of them from point-blank range, keeping the Cruzmaltino alive in the classic. Vasco's best chance came from a rare counterattack when Andrés Gómez hit the post, scaring the red-black defense.

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Flamengo, in turn, showed nervousness in the face of the need to win, having only accumulated one point in the previous rounds of the Carioca. Even so, the offensive volume and intensity indicated that the goal could come at any moment.

Barros' expulsion causes outrage at Vasco and controversy in the classic

Just 4 minutes into the second half, the classic became even more tense. Vasco's midfielder Barros was directly expelled after a tackle on Carrascal. The referee made the decision immediately, without consulting the VAR, which generated much indignation from the players, technical staff, and Vasco fans.

According to Vasco's assessment, the expulsion was irregular, as Barros was not looking at Carrascal at the time of the incident and there was no clear intention of aggression. For Vasco fans, the red card ended up completely changing the course of the match, leaving the team at a numerical disadvantage for almost the entire second half.

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The outrage spread through the stands and social media, with fans questioning the refereeing and the lack of review of the incident by the video referee. The episode reignites the debate about expulsion criteria and the use of VAR in decisive Campeonato Carioca games.

Flamengo takes advantage of numerical advantage and secures victory

With one more player, Flamengo began to control the game even more. Vasco, seeking to rebuild their defense, brought in Hugo Moura, trying to minimize the spaces left by the expulsion. Even so, the Red-Black maintained the pressure, mainly exploiting the sides of the field with Samuel Lino.

The entries of Pedro and Alex Sandro, early in the second half, gave more technical quality and offensive presence to Flamengo. The persistence was rewarded in the 23rd minute, when the Red-Black finally found the net. After a well-worked play in the attack, Carrascal appeared well-positioned to finish and score the only goal of the match.

The goal gave Flamengo tranquility, who then managed the result, while Vasco, even with one player less, still tried to attack in search of an equalizer, without success. The final whistle was followed by a brief scuffle between athletes from both teams, reflecting the tension caused by the classic and the refereeing controversy.

Vasco's next game and Flamengo's sequence in the Carioca

After the defeat in the classic, Vasco turns their attention to the next commitment in the Campeonato Carioca. The Cruzmaltino faces Boavista on Sunday (25), away from home, seeking recovery in the standings and a response on the field after the match marked by controversies.

Flamengo, on the other hand, will face another big challenge. The Red-Black takes on Fluminense, in another state classic, with the mission to gain momentum in the championship and confirm the reaction after the victory over Vasco. The result boosts the team's morale, but the performance and refereeing of the game are still likely to generate many debates in the coming days.

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