Bruno Henrique's Late Equalizer Rescues Point for Flamengo Against Atlético-MG
Key Takeaways
- Bruno Henrique's stoppage-time heroics salvage draw - The substitute's header in the 92nd minute rescued a point for Flamengo after the visitors dominated possession but trailed for most of the match at Arena MRV.
- Bernard strike puts Atlético-MG ahead - The midfielder converted Dudu's precise cross with a close-range finish in the 34th minute, giving the hosts a lead they defended until the dying moments despite limited possession.
- Late red card mars Atlético-MG's resilient effort - Rony's straight red for fouling Ayrton Lucas in the 94th minute capped a physical encounter that saw six cards distributed as both teams extended their inconsistent form with a fourth draw in five matches.
Belo Horizonte, Brazil — Bruno Henrique's dramatic stoppage-time header rescued a point for Flamengo in a tense 1-1 draw against Atlético-MG at Arena MRV on Tuesday night. The late equalizer came after Bernard had given the hosts the lead in the first half, capping an intense Brazilian Serie A clash that saw one red card and five yellows distributed.
The home side broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when Bernard found the net with a right-footed shot from very close range. The midfielder capitalized on excellent work from Dudu, who delivered a pinpoint cross that Bernard converted with confidence to give Atlético-MG the advantage. The goal energized the Arena MRV crowd as the hosts took control despite having significantly less possession.
Flamengo pushed forward relentlessly in search of an equalizer, dominating the ball with 72.2% possession and creating numerous opportunities. Samuel Lino came agonizingly close to leveling the score in the 24th minute when his header struck the left post following a cross from Luiz Araújo. The visitors continued to press, registering 15 shot attempts compared to Atlético-MG's eight, but struggled to find the finishing touch.
The match grew increasingly physical as tensions rose in the second half. Natanael received a yellow card in the 54th minute, followed by Everson in the 68th minute for Atlético-MG. Flamengo's Erick Pulgar was cautioned in the 74th minute, while Bernard picked up a yellow in the 78th minute. Bruno Henrique, who had entered as a substitute for Wallace Yan at halftime, was also booked in the 86th minute.
Just when it appeared Atlético-MG would secure all three points, Bruno Henrique delivered for Flamengo in the second minute of stoppage time. The substitute rose impressively to meet Danilo's cross, directing his header from the center of the box to the bottom right corner beyond Everson's reach. The equalizer stunned the home crowd and rewarded Flamengo's persistence.
The drama wasn't over, as Atlético-MG's Rony, who had come on as a substitute for Hulk in the 56th minute, was shown a straight red card in the fourth minute of stoppage time for a foul on Ayrton Lucas. Despite the numerical advantage in the final moments, Flamengo couldn't find a winner as both teams settled for a point. The result maintained both sides' recent inconsistent form in the Brazilian Serie A, with each team recording one win, one loss, and three draws in their last five league matches.