Wetin we dey talk? Flamengo don start dia journey for 2026 Copa Libertadores with one strong win. For Wednesday night, dem carry three points comot from Cusco FC house, beat dem 2-0 for dat high altitude wey dey fear people. Na for Inca Garcilaso de la Vega stadium, wey dey Peru, for 3,350 meters above sea level.
Bruno Henrique and Arrascaeta na di men wey put ball for net. Both goals come for second half. With dis result, di current champion don jump to top of Group A with three points. For di same night, Independiente Medellin and Estudiantes dey play draw 1-1, so dem dey follow Flamengo for back.
First half, Flamengo dey control di game well well. Dem create better chances pass Cusco. Lucas Paquetá try three times from outside di box, make di goalkeeper work. Rubro-Negro finish di first 45 minutes dey look like dem go score soon.
Second half start, di story no change. Flamengo still dey push di game. At 14 minutes, Ayrton Lucas collect ball for left side, cross am sweet for Bruno Henrique. Di man just use head touch am for corner, open di score for di champion. 1-0.
Five minutes after, Cusco almost equalize. Manzaneda collect pass, enter area, dribble Léo Pereira before cross for Ruidias. But VAR come check di thing, say na offside. Di goal no count. Small small one.
For injury time, Arrascaeta wey just enter di game, start counter-attack. He pass to Luiz Araújo, di goalkeeper Diaz block am. Ball bounce back for Arrascaeta, di Uruguayan try two times before finally put am for net. 2-0. Game set.
Flamengo show say altitude no be barrier. Dem play with confidence, control di ball, create chances. Even when Cusco try small, di defense and Rossi dey alert.
Di match referee na Derlis López from Paraguay. Assistants na Roberto Cañete and José Cuevas. VAR na Fernando López, all from Paraguay.
For Cusco side, Pedro Díaz dey goal. Ruidías, Fuentes, Ampuero and Bolívar dey defense. Colitto, Valenzuela, Soto and Silva dey midfield. Carabajal and Callejo dey attack. Coach na Alejandro Orfila.
Flamengo lineup: Rossi; Emerson Royal, Danilo, Léo Pereira, Ayrton Lucas; Evertton Araújo, De la Cruz, Lucas Paquetá; Carrascal, Bruno Henrique, Gonzalo Plata. Coach Leonardo Jardim make some changes: Léo Ortiz enter for De la Cruz, Arrascaeta for Paquetá, Luiz Araújo for Carrascal, Pedro for Bruno Henrique.
Yellow cards go to Fuentes and Manzaneda for Cusco. No red card for di match.
Now Flamengo don collect three important points away from home. For Group A, dem dey lead. Cusco dey last with zero points.
Next match for Flamengo na Saturday, dem go face Fluminense for Maracanã. Na for Brasileirão, 11th round. Then for Thursday, dem go play Libertadores again, dis time against Independiente Medellín for Maracanã too.
Cusco go face Estudiantes for Wednesday, try to collect dia first points.
Di game show say Flamengo serious for dis year Libertadores. Dem no come play. Even with altitude wahala, dem play like champions. Bruno Henrique and Arrascaeta show experience. Di team defend well, attack with purpose.
For di first half, Carrascal give Plata chance early. Plata shoot strong, Díaz save for corner. Paquetá try from distance, ball go out. Flamengo press high when dem lose ball, force Cusco to make mistake.
Cusco attack with caution, use direct passes. At 30 minutes, Cusco defense make mistake, give ball to Paquetá. Di man no score.
At 35 minutes, Paquetá shoot again from far. Díaz save for corner. From di corner, Carrascal cross, Bruno Henrique head but ball go over bar.
Second half, Flamengo keep ball more, try to speed up di play. Cusco use long balls, try to find space behind Flamengo defense.
After Bruno Henrique goal, Flamengo become more careful. Dem drop back, wait for counter-attack. Cusco push forward, create chance at 19 minutes. Manzaneda cross for Ruidíaz, head ball enter net. But VAR say offside. No goal.
At 35 minutes, De la Cruz shoot from outside box. Díaz save. Three minutes later, Luiz Araújo try from distance, ball go over.
For injury time, Arrascaeta score di second goal after persistence. At 48 minutes, Plata make good move from left, ball come to Arrascaeta, he shoot for corner but Díaz save again.
Flamengo start well for Libertadores. Dem show strength and personality. Even with 3,400 meters altitude for Cusco, dem dominate di game. Two goals, clean sheet, three points. Good start for title defense.
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