Flamengo defeated Cuiabá 2-0 at Arena Pantanal on Thursday night, thanks to Pedro and a late Thiago Maia goal. Flamengo performed admirably in the first half, but struggled in the second. The victory was Flamengo’s fourth in the championship this season, and it came at the expense of Cuiabá’s undefeated home record. For the reigning champions, the result was also a good response to their surprise defeat at the hands of Juventude last time out.
Flamengo dominated the first half, leaving Cuiabá with little room for operate. The hosts’ only chance came from Élton’s shot, which went nowhere near the target.
Flamengo’s Joao Gomes grabbed the ball inside the box in the 10th minute and passed it to Pedro, who scored the game’s first goal. Bruno Henrique had two excellent chances to extend the visitors’ advantage minutes later, but both were missed.
Flamengo struggled to keep up in the second half, and Rogério Ceni’s team was unable to replicate their first-half performance, which lead to Danilo Gomes missing a one-on-one opportunity during the game.
Cuiabá, on the other hand, improved in the second half and forced Flamengo back into their own half. They had a goal disallowed (Paulo was offside), but were unlucky not to get the equalizer and instead conceded a stoppage time goal following a Thiago Maia-led counterattack.
Before this game, Cuiabá had never lost at Arena Pantanal. Flamengo’s victory was aided by the fact that Luiz Fernando Iubel’s team had not lost at home in ten games.
On Sunday, the two teams will return to the pitch for the Brasileirão. Flamengo will face Fluminense in a derby at Neo Qumica Arena. Cuiabá will host Atlético-MG at Arena Pantanal.
