Erick Pulgar steered Flamengo to a win over Vasco da Gama at the close of the ninth round, with Arturo Vidal coming off the bench for the visitors.
Flamenco rediscovered its smile after a hesitant start, proving once again that the South American powerhouse can convert undeniable quality into results on the field.
On Monday, Flamengo secured an essential victory in their push to climb the league table. After nine rounds, Jorge Sampaoli’s side claimed another edition of the Clássico dos Milhões, defeating Vasco da Gama 4-1 in their home arena to reach fifth place with 16 points, five behind the leaders Botafogo.
Sampaoli’s record as Flamengo’s coach continues to grow, with the team showing a balanced blend of attack and structure. The opening goal came when Erick Pulgar, the Chilean holding midfielder born in Casilda, took aim from inside the box. In minute 13, he struck a powerful shot that found the top left corner past Léo Jardim, marking Pulgar’s first goal in 27 appearances for the club in defense of Flamengo.
Two minutes later, Gerson headed in a precise cross from Giorgian De Arrascaeta to increase Flamengo’s lead. By the end of the first half, Ayrton Lucas nearly sealed the result with a second goal for the hosts.
Vasco found a way back in the match through a penalty converted after a VAR review, ruling a foul by Gerson on Jair inside the area. The referee Mauricio Barbieri sanctioned the spot kick, and the visitors converted to reduce the deficit, setting the stage for Flamengo to respond after the break.
In the second half, Flamengo faced changes as Thiago Maia entered the action in the 84th minute, replacing Maia on the field. The next challenge for the champions will be a trip to Maracanã for a visit from Grêmio, a fixture that tests their consistency while they chase more favorable positions on the table.
Their upcoming assignment will be away to Racing in the Copa Libertadores, with Flamengo needing three points to secure progression to the knockout rounds. At present, Flamengo sits second in Group A with five points, trailing the group leader which holds ten. Vasco, meanwhile, eyes a reversal of form as they head to Inter de Porto Alegre in search of a result to lift them off the relegation struggle. The Vasco da Gama roster is currently anchored near the bottom of the table with six points and an eight-match winless streak.
The following sections offer a closer look at the team lineups, substitutions, and key moments from the match, along with a summary of the main incidents on the day:
15′ GOOOOOAAL FOR FLAMENGO! De Arrascaeta drives into the box, connects with Gerson, and Flamengo’s midfielder connects for the second with a leaping header at close range.
13′ GOOOOOAAL FOR FLAMENGO! De Arrascaeta feeds Pulgar, who hammers a shot into the far corner, stunning the keeper and marking his first strike for the Rubro-Negro in 27 appearances.
1′ ALMOST! Pumita Rodríguez delivers from the right, finding Alex Teixeira near the goal, whose header narrowly misses the target.
Referee Braulio da Silva Machado officiated the match, with Alex dos Santos and Thiaggo American assisting the lines. Daiane Muniz was in charge of VAR operations.
Vasco da Gama: Léo Jardim; Pumita Rodríguez, Leo, Capasso, Miranda, Lucas Piton; Jair, Luca Orellano, Matias Galarza; Alex Teixeira and Pedro Raul.
Flamengo’s confirmed XI: Matheus Cunha; Wesley, Fabricio Bruno, David Luiz, Ayrton Lucas; Erick Pulgar, Thiago Maia, Gerson, Giorgian De Arrascaeta; Matheus França and Pedro.
Gabigol is sidelined with a quadriceps strain, and Everton Ribeiro and Leo Pereira will also be unavailable for Flamengo as they recover. The club confirmed the injuries, noting synovitis in Gabigol’s left knee and a rear thigh issue for Pereira.
Both clubs boast a long history, having met 419 times with Flamengo holding the advantage by 161 wins to Vasco’s 139, and 119 draws. The latest meeting occurred in March during the Carioca championship semi-finals, where Flamengo advanced on a 6-3 aggregate.
Source: Goal