Carrascal scores late, Flamengo edge Racing, near Libertadores final | OneFootball

Flamengo and Racing (ARG) played a scrappy match at Maracanã

In a hard-fought battle, with tears and drama, just as the Libertadores demands. Flamengo gave it their all and snatched a 1-0 victory over Racing (ARG) at Maracanã, in the first leg of the competition’s semifinal. The goal of Wednesday’s (22) match came at the 42nd minute of the second half, scored by Jorge Carrascal, the best player on the field.

Now, Flamengo can even draw next Wednesday (29), in Avellaneda, to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores. If they lose by one goal, the Rubro-Negro will decide the spot in a penalty shootout, just like in the quarterfinals. However, the goal is to secure another win.

HOW WAS THE FIRST HALF?

The game started very scrappy, with Racing surprising by pressing high and making it difficult for Flamengo to play out from the back. This lasted until about the 15th minute. At that point, Mengão managed their first shot, with Jorge Carrascal, but the goalkeeper made the save.

At 21 minutes, Alex Sandro reached the byline and crossed to Varela, who set it up in the middle. In the six-yard box, Arrascaeta shot under pressure from the goalkeeper and hit the post. Although Flamengo created the best chances, Racing came closer to scoring. At 33′, Solari fired a dangerous shot, forcing Rossi into a great save after a corner kick.

In stoppage time, Flamengo launched a blitz and came close to scoring twice, with Arrascaeta with a header and Pedro with an improvised move. However, in both cases, goalkeeper Cambeses made point-blank saves.

HOW WAS THE SECOND HALF?

Unlike the first half, Flamengo started more aggressively in the second half, with good chances from Arrascaeta and Carrascal before the five-minute mark, but the shots were blocked by the opposing team. Then, at the tenth minute, Filipe Luís made his first substitutions: Ayrton Lucas and Gonzalo Plata came on for Alex Sandro and Luiz Araújo.

Soon after, a scare. After a corner into the box, Sosa put the ball in the net, but the referee called a foul on Carrascal before the finish. Flamengo’s response came at the 13th minute, with Arrascaeta forcing Cambeses to make a save.

With the match still scrappy and Racing sitting very deep, Filipe Luís played his last cards, bringing on Bruno Henrique and Samuel Lino for Pedro and Arrascaeta. It’s important to note that the number 9 had a hand injury in the second half and played through the pain.

Racing started to control the game and, surprisingly, allowed Flamengo a counterattack, even at Maracanã. Then, on a quick break, the Rubro-Negro missed a great chance with Samuel Lino at 31 minutes, but Cambeses made an excellent save.

At 35 minutes, heartbreak. After a ball into the box from Pulgar, Samuel Lino made a beautiful header over the keeper and went to celebrate. However, the striker was offside, frustrating the Flamengo fans at Maracanã.

In the dying moments, at 42 minutes, Bruno Henrique received a wonderful pass and missed a one-on-one chance. However, on the rebound, the best player on the field, Carrascal, put it in the net. The ball even took a deflection and barely made it in, sending Maracanã into a frenzy. In stoppage time, Flamengo pressed hard and even had a chance to score a second, but couldn’t convert.

WHEN IS FLAMENGO’S NEXT MATCH?

In summary, Flamengo and Racing will face each other again next Wednesday (29), this time at Estadio El Cilindro in Avellaneda, for the second leg of the Libertadores semifinal. Before that, however, the Rubro-Negro will aim for the top of the Brasileirão this Saturday (25), against Fortaleza, at Castelão, at 7:30 pm (Brasília time).

MATCH SHEET FLAMENGO 1X0 RACING Competition: Copa Libertadores da América, semifinal, first leg Venue: Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro Date: October 22, 2025, Wednesday Goals: Carrascal 42’/2nd half

LINEUPS

Flamengo: Rossi; Varela, Danilo, Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Erick Pulgar, Jorginho and Arrascaeta; Jorge Carrascal, Luiz Araújo and Pedro. Coach: Filipe Luís.

Racing: Cambeses; Martirena, Colombo, Rojo and Rojas; Sosa, Zuculini and Almendra; Conechny, Solari and Martínez. Coach: Gustavo Costas.

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