FRISCO, Texas – Wednesday had been scheduled as an off day at the 2014 Generation adidas Cup, but after Brazilian club Flamengo had their original flight canceled, the team's Monday match against the Colorado Rapids was postponed to Wednesday, forcing both teams to play three games in three days.
Having arrived early Tuesday morning and played that afternoon, Flamengo showed how good they can be with a full night's sleep, beating Colorado 5-0 on Wednesday afternoon to move into second place in Group A.
Flamengo will next face the Group A leader, the New York Red Bulls, in MLSsoccer.com's featured broadcast on Thursday night at 9 pm ET. The winner of the game will advance directly to the semifinals as group winner. All 12 teams in the International Division and all eight teams in the Domestic Division return to action on Thursday.
International Division
Flamengo 5, Colorado Rapids 0
With a strong wind blowing in the opposite direction from Monday's gusts, Flamengo won the coin toss and elected to play with the wind at their back. It resulted in a lopsided first half, with Colorado rarely able to cross midfield in possession.
After several dangerous early free kicks, Flamengo's Matheus Savio bent in a cross from the left corner, and defender Rafael – still up from the previous set piece – headed it into the back of the net. Flamengo doubled its lead five minutes later when Matheus Savio fed Jean at the top of the penalty area, and he calmly curled a golazo into the top right corner, easily the goal of the tournament so far.
The wind hurt the Rapids in the 22nd minute, as goalkeeper Tucker Schneider – who made six saves in the game – uncharacteristically bobbled a wind-blown cross, and Luã reacted first to knock it into an empty net. Powerful target forward Felipe Vizeu rounded out the first-half scoring when he held off a defender at the top of the penalty area before lacing a left-footed shot that caromed in off the left post.
The Rapids improved in the second half but gave up an unlucky goal when a cross by substitute Digão hit Felipe Vizeu in the hip and looped over the head of the unlucky Schneider.
Flamengo face New York on Thursday with first place in Group A on the line, while Colorado face the Seattle Sounders, who can still advance to the semifinals if they beat Colorado and get other results to go their way.
Colorado Rapids (0-2) vs. Flamengo (1-0-1)
2014 Generation adidas Cup - Group A
April 16, 2014 –- Toyota Stadium Field 4, Frisco TX
Scoring Summary:
FLA – Rafael 1 (Matheus Savio 2) 8
FLA – Jean 2 (Matheus Savio 3) 13
FLA – Luã 1 (unassisted) 22
FLA – Felipe Vizeu 1 (unassisted) 25
FLA – Felipe Vizeu 2 (Digão 1) 43
Colorado Rapids – Tucker Schneider, Elijah Mwenebitu, Quentin Pearson, William Herzl (Elias Helbig 47), Christopher Reichman, Blake Moncur (Kyle Ericson 56), Sam Raben, Greer Solarte (Nathan Braaten 36), Anthony Rosales, Miles Chow (Luke Marchesani 56), J.T. Grover.
Flamengo – Gabriel, Luis Rocha (Hugo 45), Arthur, Rafael, Victor Lindenberg (Digão 41), Lucas Santos, Luã (Leonardo Cereja 46), Michel, Matheus Savio (Paquetá 41), Jean (Diego 47), Felipe Vizeu.
Match played with 30-minute halves.
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
