Na Wednesday, Flamengo beat Cruzeiro 2-1 for Maracanã, and with that one, dem don enter quarter-final for Libertadores. The victory sweet but e no easy. The hero for the night no be who score, na Pedro wey dey wear number 9. E no score, but im give two fantastic assists.
Pedro na the one wey create the two goals. First, im pass give Arrascaeta, then im set Samuel Lino. After the game, Pedro talk say e happy say e fit help the team with assists. “I comot for my position make I receive ball and create play for middle. I give my teammates freedom.” E say na great match by am and the whole team.
But e also talk say dem do well for first half, but for second half dem drop small, then dem recover. “We know say the squad get quality, and we need everybody. Na tough competition dey ahead for Libertadores and Brasileiro.” The fans stand up for am when e comot for 31 minutes of second half, and Bruno Henrique enter for im place.
For Cruzeiro side, coach Artur Jorge no hide anything. Im talk say na difficult moment. “For first half, we no be ourselves. We get problem for first and second ball, we lose plenty duels. We try to correct am for second half, but when we dey on top, we suffer goal wey make things even harder.”
The match na return leg of round of 16. For the first leg, dem draw 1-1 for Mineirão. So Flamengo go through with aggregate 3-2.
Aside from the joy of qualification, Flamengo don also make money. Dem collect over R$9 million (US$1.7 million) as prize money. Dem also get the best group stage record with 15 points from five wins and one draw. Group stage start give dem US$1 million (around R$5.15 million), and reaching oitavas add another US$1.25 million (around R$6.44 million).
Now Flamengo go wait to see who dem go face for quarter-final. E go be either Tolima or Independiente del Valle. Del Valle win the first leg for Colombia 1-0, so dem go play the return match for Quito with the advantage of needing only a draw.
