Rather than letting the weekend chaos fade, Flamengo fought hard against lower division opposition in a tense cup clash.
Flamengo faced Maringá in the Brazil Cup, a team rooted in Paraná football history, and a club that can trace its roots to the State competition landscape. The match began with high expectations, and the visitors battled with great determination. Even with a strong squad on the field, save for Arturo Vidal, Flamengo found their rhythm delayed by the atmosphere and the pressing intensity. Matheus Bianchi created moments of brilliance, steering a sequence that led to David Luiz turning the ball into his own net and Serginho sealing a dramatic late touch to swing the tie.
Flamengo entered the rematch still carrying a heavy load from a lopsided league result and a 1-4 setback that left the club without prizes in state and international campaigns. Vitor Pereira, recently relieved of his duties, watched as the team missed Super Cup glory and Recopa success, with a difficult run in the Club World Cup adding to the pressure. Mario Jorge, the coach at the time, found it hard to impose preferred ideas on a squad hungry for consistency.
The return leg was scheduled for late April at the Maracanã, a venue packed with expectations and the possibility of a new coach entering the scene as Flamengo chased a title.
58’ GOAL! Matheus Bianqui delivered a precise cross that Serginho converted with a composed first-time run, pulling off a surprising breakthrough.
Half-time produced a historic snapshot of the scoreline, a moment that would be remembered by both sides.
38’ GOAL! After a VAR review, David Luiz inadvertently redirected a cross into his own net, tying the game in a moment of misfortune for the home side.
31′ | 1st Half | 0-0 – Flamengo pressed high as Everton Ribeiro linked with Gabi, who moved into a forward position and struck from distance. Pedro made a timely rebound, but the defense recovered to preserve the moment. #MARxFLA #VamosFlamengo
– Flamengo (@Flamengo) April 13, 2023
13′ | 1st Half | 0-0 – KWAS! A cutting through ball found space and a powerful strike followed. The defender scrambled and almost redirected into his own goal. A corner for Flamengo followed. #MARxFLA #VamosFlamengo
— Flamengo (@Flamengo) April 13, 2023
Pela first time, the green and white tricolor showed its flair on WD. This display marked Maringá FC as a club to watch, capable of elevating its squad through strategic recruitment and a growing technical team. Fans rallied, sharing messages of support and building a chorus around a club keen to write its own modern chapter.
1′ The match kicked into motion with purpose.
Ratified lineups:
Three-Colored Scale emerged as the defining motif of the day. The coach Castilho confirmed Flamengo’s starting XI for the night, noting that João Denoni and Leandrinho remained sidelined by injuries while Bruno Lopes returned as a potential option. Erick Varão, Luiz Tiago and Raphinha appeared in the headlines as Maringá FC prepared to challenge.
— Maringa FC (@maringafc) April 13, 2023
The refereeing crew for the match was announced and respected for their handling of the evening’s tensions.
Source: Goal