Flamengo beat Fluminense on penalties after a 0-0 draw and sealed the Campeonato Carioca at the Maracanã on Sunday at 6: 00 PM ET, with goalkeeper Rossi decisive in the shootout. The match ended goalless in regular time and moved to penalties, where Rossi saved attempts from Guga and Otávio to give Flamengo the victory. The outcome crowns Leonardo Jardim’s first match in charge and hands Fluminense a R$5 million runner-up prize set by the state federation.
Key moments and the shootout that decided the title
The final was played under the rule that the winner takes the trophy and a draw in normal time leads to penalties. After 90 minutes of scoreless play, the title was decided from the spot in a tense shootout that finished 5-4 in favor of Flamengo. Rossi’s saves on Guga and Otávio proved decisive, securing a consecutive third state championship for the winning side. Match officials were led by referee Bruno Arleu de Araújo with VAR operated by Carlos Eduardo Nunes Braga.
Flamengo: Jardim’s debut, team setup and immediate consequences
Leonardo Jardim lifted the trophy in his first match for the club after being in the role for five days and completing four training sessions with the squad. The new coach had limited time to implement changes before the final; Flamengo entered the game after a week of turmoil within the club and recent heavy scoring earlier in the week. The probable starting lineup listed Rossi in goal, a back four featuring Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro, a midfield with Jorginho, Evertton Araújo (or Pulgar) and Paquetá, and an attack with Carrascal (or Arrascaeta), Cebolinha and Pedro. Bruno Henrique was unavailable due to pubalgia, and Saúl remained sidelined by a heel surgery.
Money, standings and what this means for both clubs now
The state federation set the runner-up prize at R$5 million for Fluminense, which finished second in the competition. The tournament also distributed payments for semifinalists and participation, with larger shares for the top clubs across the competition. Fluminense’s campaign included a strong season start and a recent slip with a 1-1 draw against Vasco in the semifinal; the club will take the runner-up prize and the Taça Guanabara bonus noted in the competition breakdown.
What’s next: Flamengo returns to league action midweek, scheduled to face Cruzeiro on Wednesday at the Maracanã, and will use the coming days to build on Jardim’s debut and manage squad recovery. For Fluminense, attention will turn to regrouping after the final and evaluating the squad ahead of the next fixtures as officials and coaching staff review the season’s outcomes. Observers will watch how both clubs adjust in the short term and whether Flamengo’s new coach can translate the immediate success into sustained form in other competitions; flamengo’s steps this week will set the tone for the run of matches ahead.
