Flamengo earn huge result in Quito’s altitude

Flamengo traveled to Quito and its 2,850 meters above sea level to face Independiente del Valle this Thursday (10).

And came away with a great result by beating the Ecuadorian side 2-0 at the Atahualpa Olympic Stadium.

Bruno Henrique and Léo Pereira scored the goals on Ecuadorian soil.

Securing a good advantage for the second leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals.

It was the first away win over a rival that had once even handed Fla a 5-0 defeat.

Check out the highlights soon.

Del Valle pressure (already expected)

The Ecuadorian team did what was expected of them: they had more possession and tried to pin Flamengo back from the start.

Rubro-Negro even managed to move the ball around and “breathe” in the first 15 minutes.

But it gradually lost steam against a rival that began to take control of the game.

Del Valle showed superiority in the opening half, but had only one real dangerous chance: top scorer Carlos González’s shot off the post.

Del Valle had ten shots before halftime. Flamengo had none.

BH27 and Léo Pereira make the difference

The home side came back without Carlos González, who got injured.

Leonardo Jardim, meanwhile, preferred not to make changes at first.

Flamengo’s search for its first real dangerous chance paid off in the 61st minute.

Counterattack, Lino played in, and Bruno Henrique scored.

It was his 23rd for Fla in the Libertadores. And his 120th overall.

Del Valle tried to respond immediately. But Ayrton Lucas came up with two saves.

And what was already good… got even better!

After a corner, Léo Pereira rose highest to make it 2-0 (75′).

The substitutions made by Joaquín Papa did not have the effect he had hoped for.

Meanwhile, Flamengo and its superior squad managed to control the opponent’s momentum.

After a first half in which it could not get going, Flamengo “looked like Flamengo” and moved closer to yet another semifinal.

🤔 What now?

The second leg will be next Thursday (17). With the Maracanã as the venue.

CRF can even afford to lose by one goal.

And Del Valle will need to win by three goals to advance in regular time.

A two-goal win will send it to penalties.

Whoever goes through will secure prize money of 2.3 million dollars.

And will already know who their semifinal rival will be.

After the 1-1 draw in Argentina, the second Corinthians vs. Estudiantes match will be in Itaquera on Wednesday (16).

Before that, Fla will have a challenge in round 27 of the Brazilian Championship, as it hosts Corinthians on Sunday (13).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.