Flamengo thrash Cusco, close in on best Libertadores record | OneFootball

With goals from Bruno Henrique (2) and Paquetá, Flamengo beat Cusco (PER) at the Maracanã

Almost a perfect campaign! Flamengo beat Cusco (PER) 3-0, with two goals from Bruno Henrique and one from Paquetá, and closed out Group A of the Libertadores with 16 points. In other words, Mengão has a great chance of having the best first-phase campaign. See how this Tuesday’s (26) clash unfolded at the Maracanã, where the first goal only came in the 34th minute of the second half.

HOW WAS THE FIRST HALF?

Flamengo started with total control of the match. Just six minutes in, Ayrton Lucas got to the byline and played it to De La Cruz. The Uruguayan hit it first time, but the Cusco defense cleared it off the line. Later, Mengão threatened again in the 24th minute.

After a slick passing move in the attacking third, the ball fell to Evertton Araújo. The midfielder unleashed a rocket from outside the box, but the ball smashed off the post, drawing an “ooohhh” from the Nation in attendance at the Maracanã.

The match was comfortable for Flamengo, but the same old sin remained: not finishing their chances. So Cusco started to grow into the game. In the 43rd minute, Silva hit a hard, low shot dangerously, and Andrew pushed it out for a corner, in the Peruvian side’s first shot of the match. 

In stoppage time, Flamengo still tried a late blitz, with several shots in quick succession. Even Danilo pushed forward to try to break the deadlock, but without success. The first half ended goalless, despite the home side having 71% possession and a 10-2 edge in shots.

HOW WAS THE SECOND HALF?

Cusco started the second half the way they ended the first: enjoying the game. Two minutes in, Carabajal fired a dangerous shot just wide of the post. Flamengo responded in the sixth minute with a good free-kick from Saúl. The fans began to grow irritated in the 15th minute, so Leonardo Jardim decided to make changes.

Erick Pulgar and Pedro came on for Evertton Araújo and Luiz Araújo. Shortly after, Lucas Paquetá and Samuel Lino also came on for De La Cruz and Saúl. However, Flamengo was still having a very uninspired night. 

With 27 minutes played, a huge chance! Pedro played a beautiful through ball to Emerson Royal, who went one-on-one, but the goalkeeper saved with his foot. In the 33rd minute, another unbelievable chance. Ayrton Lucas crossed into the box, but Pedro, completely unmarked, missed from the six-yard box.

The goal, which had been coming, finally arrived. After a scramble in the box, the ball fell to Bruno Henrique, who simply tapped it into the net and rescued Flamengo in the 34th minute. Mengão made it 1-0 at the Maracanã and the Red-and-Black Nation celebrated. BH then made it two in the 39th minute, unleashing a rocket after a pass from Plata. In stoppage time, Paquetá sealed the win from the penalty spot.

WHEN IS FLAMENGO’S NEXT MATCH?

In short, Flamengo’s next Libertadores match will only take place in August, against an opponent to be determined in next Friday’s (29) draw. Before that, on Saturday (30), the Most Beloved returns to action this season against Coritiba, in the last Brasileirão match before the World Cup break. So, the ball starts rolling at 4:00 PM (Brasília time) at the Maracanã. 

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