Flamengo win Florida Cup Opener on Penalty Kicks

Flamengo win Florida Cup Opener on Penalty Kicks

Flamengo won their first game on U.S. soil in over 10 years, defeating Ajax 4-3 on penalty kicks in their first match of the Florida Cup at Orlando City Stadium. Fernando Uribe scored two goals for Flamengo in an electrifying first half that saw four goals between the two historic clubs and plenty of action. In the penalty shootout, Ajax’s Joël Veltman hit the post and new-signing Lisandro Magallán shot high over the bar to hand Flamengo the win.

Flamengo’s lineup energized the pro-Flamengo crowd from the opening whistle. The banging drums, blowing whistles, waving red and black flags, and a Flamengo banner that rose fifty-feet-high behind the north-side goal – all indicators that Flamengo had arrived. Flamengo fielded a strong squad that included regulars Uribe, Diego, Éverton Ribeiro, and Vitinho in the attack while Ajax brought out a mixed squad with veteran Jan-Klaas Huntelaar leading youngsters David Neres, Vaclav Cerny, and Carel Eiting. Magallán made his first appearance for the club after joining from Boca Juniors nearly a week ago. 

As the game wore on, Ajax began to challenge the Flamengo defense with a few sustained bouts of possession. Huntelaar scored the first goal of the game in the 16^th minute off a clean one-two with Cerny. The Ajax striker was certain to score, running full speed on the end of a sitter with a clear view of the goal. Uribe equalized in the 19^th minute. The Colombian ran onto Éverton Ribeiro’s curling outside of the foot pass and snuck behind the Ajax defense, lofting the bouncing ball over stranded keeper Kostas Lamprou and into the open net. The Flamengo fans rose to their feet, celebrating their first goal in America since Obina’s strike against Club America in Los Angeles in 2006.

Once the action picked up, there were plenty of goal-scoring opportunities from both teams. Éverton Ribeiro nearly made it 2-1 when he jumped on a loose ball after Ajax’s Daley Sinkgraven misplayed a pass. Flamengo nearly took the lead minutes later when Vitinho’s left-footed shot caused problems for Lamprou. But the Ajax keeper was able to stop Uribe’s powerful rebound from a tight angle.

Zakarya Labyad put Ajax back in front in the 34^th minute following a pure Ajax combination across the box that went from Eiting to Neres to Ryan Gravenberch to Labayad, who side-footed the ball into the net. Ajax’s lead only lasted nine minutes. Flamengo tied the game up at two when Uribe jumped on a rebound off Diego’s shot and calmly finished for his second goal of the game.

The second half saw numerous changes for Flamengo and gradual changes from Ajax, including the introduction of their new signing Lassina Traoré from Ajax Capetown. 

Uribe was named Universal Man of the Match for his first-half two-goal performance. Both teams will be back in action again on Saturday at Orlando City Stadium.

Goals

Huntelaar- 16^th minute

Uribe- 19^th minute

Labayad- 34^th minute

Uribe- 44^th minute

Yellow Cards

Ajax: Veltman  Flamengo: Paris da Motta

Lineups: