Leo Pereira’s header in Flamengo x Pyramids in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup semi-final

Flamengo came out ahead of Pyramids in the semifinals of Copa Intercontinental, played in Estádio Ahmad bin Ali, in Al Rayyan, in Catar. The goal came in the 23rd minute of the first half, scored by defender Leo Pereira, who rose high to head in a free kick from Arrascaeta. The match, which counts for a place in the final against Paris Saint-Germain, continues with a score of 1-0 for the Brazilian team. The confrontation began at 2pm at Brasília time, corresponding to the local time of approximately 8pm.

The team led by Filipe Luís dominates the initial actions, with greater possession of the ball and constant pressure on the Egyptian defense. Pyramids, champion of Liga of Campeões of África, adopts a more defensive stance, betting on quick counterattacks. Até 26 minutes into the first half, Flamengo creates the best opportunities, while the opponent is still trying to organize itself on the field.

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Balanced start with red-black dominance

The game started with Flamengo exchanging passes in defense and Pyramids applying high pressure. Nos first minutes, Carrascal missed a pass in the middle, allowing

Soon after, Flamengo responded with a good move from Cebolinha on the left, who passed to Arrascaeta at the edge of the area. The Egyptian defense removed the danger. The Brazilian team maintained possession and looked for spaces in the opposing defense.

Main moves to the goal

• 00′: Bola scrolling in Ahmad bin Ali. Flamengo starts with exchanges of passes in defense.
• 02′: Mayele takes a long shot after a mistake by Carrascal, but the ball goes wide.
• 04′: Plata passes to Cebolinha, who volleys into the area; Samy blocks, and Arrascaeta finishes out.
• 09′: Sequência of fouls in midfield; Plata suffers an infraction, and Carrascal is subsequently knocked down.
• 18′: Mayele heads in a split with Leo Pereira, but sends it out.
• 21′:
• 22′: Cebolinha dribbles past two markers and is fouled by Chibi; aerial ball chance.
• 23′: Gol do Flamengo! Arrascaeta takes a free kick effectively, and Leo Pereira heads it firmly into the small area and into the back of the net.

Decisive goal from Leo Pereira

Arrascaeta positioned the ball for a free kick in the offensive midfield. The Uruguayan midfielder lifted with precision towards the area, where Leo Pereira escaped the marking and rose higher than the defense.

The defender headed hard, with no chance for the goalkeeper El Shenawy. The great goal put Flamengo ahead and excited the red and black fans present at the stadium. Leo Pereira, one of the highlights of the season, celebrates his fifth goal of the year.

The move crowned Brazilian superiority until then, with greater volume of play and dangerous finishes. Pyramids felt the blow and began to retreat even further, prioritizing defensive organization.

Immediate reaction from Pyramids

After the goal, the Egyptian team tried to advance the lines to seek a draw. Mayele, the main offensive reference, received long throws, but the Flamengo defense, led by Danilo and Leo Pereira, intercepted the plays.

In one of them, Varela crossed from the right, but the ball was cut. Flamengo maintained control, exchanging passes in midfield to manage the partial advantage.

Ball possession and partial statistics

Until the 26th minute, Flamengo recorded around 60% possession of the ball. The Brazilian team finishes more often, with four attempts compared to two from Pyramids.

The red and blacks win corners and free kicks in favorable positions. The Filipe Luís strategy prioritizes patience in constructing plays to break through the opponent’s defense.

Pyramids bets on defensive solidity, with low lines and man-to-man marking in the middle. Coach Krunoslav Jurcic guides quick throw-ins to explore counterattacks.

Lineup and news at Flamengo

Filipe Luís made three changes compared to the previous game. Danilo, Cebolinha and Plata started as starters, bringing more speed on the wings.

The formation has Rossi in goal; Varela, Danilo, Leo Pereira and Alex Sandro in defense; Pulgar, Jorginho and Arrascaeta in the middle; Cebolinha, Carrascal and Plata in attack. Pedro remains on the bench and may enter depending on the progress of the match.

These changes aim to refresh the team after the exhaustion of the match against Cruz Azul. Flamengo arrives with an average of almost two goals per game without the starting center forward.

How Pyramids arrives at the confrontation

Pyramids advanced to the semi-finals after eliminating Al-Ahli and Auckland City in the previous stages. The Egyptian team won the Liga of the Campeões of the África in 2025 and is going through a good phase in the national championship.

With high investments in recent years, the club has consolidated itself as a powerhouse on the continent. Fiston Mayele leads the attack, with important goals in the previous stages of the tournament.

The team had more time to prepare, with the last match a week ago. Isso represents a physical advantage over Flamengo, who played just two days ago.

Coach Jurcic is betting on tactical organization and air strength to surprise. Jogadores as Mostafa Zico, nicknamed after the red-and-black idol, add extra motivation to the cast.

History and importance of the duel

This is the first confrontation between Flamengo and Pyramids in history. The Brazilian team has already faced Egyptian clubs, such as Al Ahly, winning 4-2 in the 2022 Mundial.

Against African teams, the red and black record includes 16 games, with a positive balance. The victory is worth the Copa Challenger trophy and medals for the winner, as determined by FIFA to enhance the tournament.

The classified will face Paris Saint-Germain in the final, scheduled for December 17th. Flamengo seeks its second intercontinental title, after 1981.

Arbitration and broadcast

Arbitration is in charge of Abdulrahman Al Jassim, from Catar, with local assistants. VAR is commanded by Khamis Al Marri.

The match is broadcast live on Globo, SporTV and digital platforms such as ge and CazéTV. ge follows you in real time with exclusive videos of the bids.

Fans follow the duel expecting more emotions in the second half. Flamengo maintains the advantage, but the game remains open.

Tactical overview in progress

Flamengo proposes the game with quick exchanges of passes and constant movement. Arrascaeta organizes the plays, while Cebolinha and Plata open the field on the wings.

Pulgar and Jorginho guarantee balance in the middle, recovering balls and distributing them. The defense is solid, with Leo Pereira standing out in the air.

On the Egyptian side, the strong boom makes infiltration difficult. The team expects mistakes to counterattack with a speed of Mayele and Zico.

So far, few clear endings for Pyramids. The team needs to take more risks to seek a draw before the break.

Expectations for the rest of the match

With the score favorable, Flamengo controls the pace and seeks to expand. Pyramids can advance lines in the second half, opening spaces for red and black counterattacks.

Pedro, on the bench, represents an option to change the panorama. Sua possible entry increases offensive variants.

The confrontation remains intense, with Flamengo closest to the spot. The Copa Intercontinental semi-final reserves more chapters in the Ahmad bin Ali.

Tournament details and prize pool

Copa Intercontinental 2025 brings together continental champions in a format renewed by FIFA. Todas matches distribute specific trophies and medals.

Flamengo has already won Derby from Américas by beating Cruz Azul. Agora, disputes Copa Challenger against the African representative.

The final against PSG promises a balance between South Americans and Europeans. The title consolidates the winner as intercontinental champion of the year.

The tournament takes place entirely at Catar, with modern stadiums. The local climate influences the physical performance of teams.

Featured players so far

Leo Pereira is going through a great phase, with decisive goals and defensive leadership. Arrascaeta shows game vision when assisting the goal.

Cebolinha creates imbalances on the left with dribbling. Do Pyramids, Mayele threatens long balls, demanding constant attention.

Carrascal and Plata add dynamism to the Flamengo attack. The match highlights interesting individual clashes.

Continuation of the first half

In the 26th minute, Flamengo circulates the ball in the attacking field. The Pyramids is compact, closing spaces in the middle.

Varela advances on the right and looks for a cross, but the defense cuts it. The Brazilian team keeps the pressure on in search of the second goal.

The referee controls the game well, with few interruptions. The semi-final remains disputed, with a partial red-black advantage.