Flamengo is defeated by Corinthians who win the second Supercopa Rei championship in Brasília

Corinthians became champions of Supercopa Rei by defeating Flamengo 2-0 in an intense final, played this Sunday at Estádio Mané Garrincha, in Brasília. The team from São Paulo built the victory with one goal in each half, opening the scoring with Gabriel Paulista in the initial stage and sealing the result with Yuri Alberto in the final stoppage time, guaranteeing the club’s second title in the history of the competition.

The match, which pitted Flamengo, champion of the Campeonato Brasileiro of 2025, against Corinthians, winner of the Copa of the Brasil of the same year, was marked by a capital move at the end of the first half: the expulsion of Flamengo midfielder Carrascal after a VAR review. With one more player throughout the second stage, the black and white team knew how to manage the advantage and exploit counterattacks to confirm the victory.

The clash attracted a massive audience to the federal capital, registering a record 71,244 fans present at the arena. The achievement represents a victorious start to the season for Corinthians, who repeat the feat of 1991, when they lifted the trophy for the first time.

Initial dominance and the goal that opened the scoring

Despite Corinthians’ victory, it was Flamengo who started the match exerting strong offensive pressure. Logo in the first minutes, the Rio team almost opened the scoring with a header from Pedro that exploded onto the crossbar, frightening the black and white defense. The red and black team controlled possession of the ball and sought to find spaces in the solid defensive organization set up by coach Dorival Júnior. Corinthians, in turn, relied on a containment strategy to come out at speed in counterattacks, using the speed of their wingers to pose danger.

The São Paulo strategy proved effective after 25 minutes. Após a short corner kick, Matheuzinho received it in the middle and made a precise cross into the area. Defender Gustavo Henrique headed the ball away, and the ball was cleared by Gabriel Paulista. The opportunistic defender did not hesitate and finished first, with force, with no chance for goalkeeper Rossi, opening the scoring for Corinthians and changing the outlook of the confrontation. The goal gave peace of mind to the team, which began to control the pace of the game with more security.

The expulsion that changed the fate of the match

The most crucial moment of the final occurred in the last play of the first half. In a dispute away from the ball, Colombian midfielder Carrascal, from Flamengo, hit young Breno Bidon, from Corinthians, in the face. Referee Rafael Rodrigo Klein initially did not call the foul, but was called by VAR to review the play on the monitor.

After a few minutes of analysis, the aggression was confirmed, and the referee returned to the pitch to issue a red card directly to the Flamengo player. The decision generated a lot of complaints from the red and black athletes, but it was maintained, leaving the Rio team with one less player for the entire second half.

The expulsion completely changed the tactical dynamics of the match. Flamengo, which was already at a disadvantage on the scoreboard, saw its mission to seek a draw become even more complex, while Corinthians gained an ideal scenario to manage the result and explore the spaces that would arise.

Strategy and substitutions in the second stage

With the numerical and score advantage, Corinthians returned to the second half with a posture of control. The Dorival Júnior team valued possession of the ball and tried to tire the opponent, who needed to run twice as much to compensate for the absence of a player. Dangerous plays appeared mainly in quick transitions, with Memphis Depay and Yuri Alberto being constantly played at speed.

On the Flamengo side, coach Filipe Luís was forced to reorganize his team tactically. Ele promoted the entry of Lucas Paquetá at the beginning of the final stage, seeking greater creativity and finishing power. The midfielder, recently arrived at the club, demonstrated quality and managed to create some opportunities, injecting new energy into the team.

Other changes were made, with the additions of Ayrton Lucas and Bruno Henrique, in an attempt to increase offensive strength on the flanks and in the area. Flamengo demonstrated bravery and did not give up, pressing Corinthians in its defense field at several times.

Despite the effort, the Rio team found it difficult to overcome the well-positioned Corinthian defense. The numerical disadvantage was a significant obstacle, limiting offensive options and exposing the team to dangerous counterattacks from the opponent, who managed the clock intelligently.

Missed opportunities and the beam as the protagonist

Even with one player less, Flamengo continued to fight for a draw and created clear chances to score. In one of the best opportunities, Lucas Paquetá received a cross in the small area and, with the goal open, finished over, wasting an incredible chance. The red-black team was also in danger with shots from Pedro and Pulgar, but the shots were blocked by the defense or stopped by safe defenses.

Corinthians, in turn, had several opportunities to end the match before stoppage time. In a quick counterattack, Yuri Alberto received a pass from Kaio César and finished with class, but the ball capriciously hit the goalkeeper’s post Pouco later, the same Yuri Alberto found the net, but the goal was correctly disallowed due to offside at the origin of the play, keeping the score at 1-0 and the suspense in the air.

Yuri Alberto seals the victory with a goal

As the match drew to a close and Flamengo threw its last strength into the attack in search of a heroic draw, Corinthians defined the title with a spectacular move. Aos 52 minutos do segundo tempo, já nos acréscimos, a defesa alvinegra recuperou a bola e iniciou um contra-ataque fulminante. Kaio César advanced through the middle and gave a precise pass to Yuri Alberto, who quickly left the defense field. The attacker overcame the marking, invaded the area and, when faced with goalkeeper Rossi leaving, demonstrated impressive coolness and technique: with a subtle touch, he applied a beautiful hat to the Argentine goalkeeper and, with the goal completely free, he just pushed the ball into the back of the net. Foi an anthological goal to crown the performance and seal the victory and the title once and for all for Timão.

Outstanding performances in the national classic

Several players played important roles in the decision. Pelo Alongside Corinthians, Yuri Alberto was the big name, not only for the great goal that sealed the title, but for his constant movement, creating problems for the opposing defense throughout the game. Gabriel Paulista was also fundamental, scoring the first goal and showing defensive solidity to contain the attacks of the Flamengo attack.

In Flamengo, despite the defeat, goalkeeper Rossi had a standout performance, making important saves that kept his team in the match until the final minutes. The debutant

Record attendance in the federal capital

The Supercopa Rei final was a great success with the public, reflecting the appeal of the biggest classic in Brazilian football. The Estádio Mané Garrincha received 71,244 fans, setting a new arena attendance record for football matches. The atmosphere created by the two fans was vibrant, with a great spectacle in the stands that complemented the intensity seen on the field, consolidating the event as one of the main dates on the national calendar.