November 4 – Flamengo are on course to win the Brazilian Cup after defeating Atletico Mineiro 3-1 with two goals from striker Gabigol in the first leg of the final at the Maracana.
The forward, who had fallen out of favour under previous manager Tite, steered his club to a two-goal victory and sizable advantage in the two-leg final of the Copa do Brasil. Uruguayan midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta had given the Rio club an 11th-minute lead, but in the 80th minute, Alan Kardec pulled a vital goal back for the visitors to keep the tie alive.
Gabriel’s two-goal flourish is in sharp contrast to his recent mixed record at Flamengo. He was suspended for attempted anti-doping fraud for two years, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) cleared the player. Once Flamengo’s undisputed striker, he has also been struggling for playing time.
“A player of Gabriel’s level, a decisive player, you can’t teach that to someone,” said manager Filipe Luis.
“You can’t teach a player to be decisive. Either you have it or you don’t. Gabriel has goals. It’s no wonder he’s one of the club’s top scorers and one of the top scorers in finals. Today we saw one of the best versions of Gabriel on the field.”
Luis replaced Tite after Flamengo crashed out of the Copa Libertadores in the quarter-finals.
In Serie A, Flamengo sit nine points off the top but with three matches in hand. It means the Brazilian Cup represents the club’s best chance to rescue the season. Flamengo will seek to protect their two-goal cushion next Sunday at Atletico Mineiro’s Arena MRV in the second leg.
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