Forward Gonzalo Plata ended his goal drought in Flamengo‘s win over Bahia and lightened the mood behind the scenes by promising a “Pix” transfer to Samuel Lino.
Flamengo reclaimed the top spot in the Brazilian Serie A after beating Bahia away from home at the Arena Fonte Nova. The match was marked by Gonzalo Plata returning to the scoresheet wearing the red-and-black jersey.
The Ecuadorian forward secured one of the goals in the victory through a well-crafted play alongside teammate Samuel Lino. The result brought the Rio de Janeiro side to 67 points in the standings.
The standout performance also brought relief to the player, who had been facing a long stretch without finding the back of the net since the first half of the year.
Good vibes behind the scenes and end of the drought
The decisive play started with a ball recovery in the attacking half. Following the counterattack, Samuel Lino delivered a precise cross into the box, allowing Gonzalo Plata to finish with a header.
After the final whistle, the chemistry between the two players became a running joke behind the scenes. In an interview with the club’s official channel, the forward joked about rewarding the assist.
“Yes, I already thanked him. I’ll send him the Pix later”
The feat ended an unwelcome streak for the player, who hadn’t scored for Flamengo since April. Back then, he had found the net in a rout against Atlético-MG.
Table situation and upcoming challenges
Besides Gonzalo Plata, the triumph in Salvador featured goals scored by Jorginho and Lucas Paquetá. With these three points, Flamengo overtook Palmeiras by just a single point.
Now, the coaching staff turns its attention to decisive continental matches. The team has started preparations with full focus on the second leg of the Copa Libertadores semifinals.
The crucial clash against Estudiantes takes place this Thursday at the Maracanã stadium. With Gonzalo Plata available, the squad looks to secure a spot in the tournament’s grand final.
Later in the schedule, the team returns to domestic action to face Atlético-MG on October 26. The match will be played at the Maracanã, with the team focused on holding onto the top spot in the league.
