Recopa Sulamericana trophy
By Joao Cunha
Flamengo host Ecuadorian side Indiepiedente Del Valle in the second-leg in the Recopa Sulanerucana needing a win to clinch the title. The Brazilian club despite being the second-most successful club in terms of domestic silverware, have routinely disappointed to win international titles. In fact Flamengo have only won four South American titles in the club’s history; 1981 Copa Libertadores, 1996 Copa Ouro, 1999 Copa Mercosul, and the 2019 Copa Libertadores title. For a club that has won 12 titles domestically that is a low amount of international success. Which is why Wednesday’s clash is so important to the Catioca club. It is a chance to atone for the myriad of failures that has haunted the club over the years. Especially at the Maracana, a house of horrors for Flamengo in big games in South American tournaments.
Flamengo have necer won a South American title at home, all four of their title wins have been away from home or in neutral field. 1981 they won the Libertadores in Uruguay defeating Corbeloa 2-0. In 1996 and 1999 they won their title in Brazil but not in the Maracana beating Sao Paulo 3-1 in Manaus and drawing 3-3 against Palmerias in Sao Paulo. In 2019 they won the Libertadores in Peru beating River Plate 2-1. In fact the only Rio side to win an international title at the Maracana is Botafogo who won the Copa Commebol beating Penarol on penalties in 1993. Flamengo when they have had the chance to win major titles at home they always failed.
Flamengo losing a final of the Sulamericana to Independiente 3-2 on aggregate.
995 Supercopa Libertadores: Flamengo returned to Rio needing to overturn a 2-0 defeat in the first leg. The season until that point was a total disaster. Despite signing Romario, Edmundo, and Branco, Flamengo battled relegation and narrowly avoided the drop. They lost an iconic final to rivals Fluminese 3-2 with Renato Gaucho scoring a goal winner with his stomach. This was their last chance to salvge their centenary year and win a major title. However they could only muster a 1-0 win and Indepediente and finished the season without a major title. To add insult to injury Botafogo their arch-rivals won the 1995 league title.
2017 copa Sulamericana: Flamengo reached an international final for the first time in 16 years facing off against Independiente once again in the final. They lost the first-leg in Argentina 2-1 but returned home as favorites to win the title. Flamengo took the lead but then conceded a controversial penalty in which Barco converted. Despite creating many good chances the scored stayed at 1-1 and Flamengo once again lost a final on home soil.
2008 Libertadores Round of 16: Flamengo were one of the favorites to win the Libertadores and proved to be a strong side as they eased to a 4-2 against Club America in Azteca. All they needed to do is avoid a 3-goal defeat at home to advance to the last eight. But in typical Flamengo fashion they blew it, losing 3-0 to an inspired America side led by Salvador Cabanas who scored a brilliant hat-trick. Flamengo were stunned and the season finished with only the Carioca title and a disappointing fifth-place finish in the league.
2010 Copa Libertadores quarter-final: For the first time since 1993 Flamengo had reached the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals. Flamengo being the defending Brazilian champions were expected to reach the semi-finals. But the Chilean side bravely won in Rio 3-2 to have a massive advantage heading to the second-leg. Although Flamengo fought back and won 2-1 in Chile they fell on away goals. Another home game cost Flamengo.
2014 Copa Libertadores group stage: Flamengo only needed a win against Leon to reach the last 16. But they fell 3-2 to Leon for a humbling exit. They would have at least some consolation 4 days winning the Carioca defeating rivals Vasco in the final.
2018 Copa Libertadores round of 16: There was no more excuses in 2018. Flamengo had built one of the best sides in South America, they had finally advanced past the group stage for the first time since 2010. This was the year for a deep run in the torurnament. Once again they were destroyed at home 2-0 by a defensive Cruzeiro side. It was a shambolic display one of the worst of Fla’s season. The second-leg Flamengo managed to win at the Minerao 1-0 and very nearly forced a penalty-shootout bur fell one goal short. Yet another pathetic elimination because they couldn’t get it done at home. Flamengo would win nothing that season but finished 2nd in the league.
With these examples the Recopa title becomes that much more significant. It isn’t just another title, it is a way to put a lot of humiliations behind the club. If Flamengo win on Wednesday they will be the first Brazilian side to win an international title across four seperate decades. (1980’s, 1990’s, 2010’s, 2020’s) Flamengo would also be the first side in Rio to win the Recopa title. However the most symbolic thing that this title would bring would be the end of the Maracana curse for Flamengo. Fla had a lot of disappointments at home over the years and a victory would heal a lot of the wounds. This is vital as the venue for the Copa Libertadores final in 2020 is the Maracana. So Flamengo would be well served to win this title now and take away the pressure from the side if they happen to reach the Libertadores. Considering Flamengo are the defending Libertadores champions and are the favorites to repeat it would help to get the monkey off their back now not in 9 months. As a victory for Flamengo would mean freedom from a curse, and that makes the Recopa title that mcuh more important for the Rio side. Jorge Jesus and his side have broken many curses over the past year, they ended Flamengo’s 10 year league drought, their 38 year wait for the Copa Libertadores, their first ever Supercopa do Brazil. It would be fitting if yet another dark cloud is lifted on Wednesday and this team would be the side to do just that.
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