Arrascaeta Brace Lifts Flamengo Over Cruz Azul to Intercontinental Semifinal

Overview

• Flamengo won 2-1 in Doha’s Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in the Derby of the Americas, with Jorge Sánchez scoring Cruz Azul’s goal late in the first half.
• Arrascaeta opened the scoring after defender Gonzalo Piovi’s errant pass, then netted the winner with a chipped effort that was awarded after the referee’s watch signaled the ball had crossed the line.
• With the victory, Flamengo plays Pyramids on Dec. 13 for a place in the Dec. 17 final, where PSG awaits as the confirmed opponent.
• Léo Ortiz returned to Flamengo’s starting lineup, while Pedro was listed on the bench but deemed unfit to play due to a thigh injury, according to the club.
• Post-match fallout included a Flamengo social post declaring itself the first Brazilian winner of the Derby of the Americas and Mexican media criticism of Cruz Azul’s errors; local reports also highlighted participation and winner payouts for the event.