CR Flamengo secured a second successive trophy in Al Rayyan by winning the FIFA Challenger Cup with a 2-0 victory over Egypt’s Pyramids FC at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, a result that also booked their place in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2025 final against European champions Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
Coached by former Brazil international Filipe Luis, Flamengo arrived in Qatar in excellent form as champions of both the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores and Brazil’s Serie A, and this win came just days after their 2-1 success over Cruz Azul in the FIFA Derby of the Americas.
Facing Pyramids FC, who came into the tournament as African champions and Challenger Cup contenders, the Rio side took control of the match early and rarely loosened their grip.
From the opening minutes, Flamengo dictated play, keeping the ball for long spells and pushing Pyramids deep into their own half, repeatedly working the ball into promising attacking positions.
Their pressure told in the 24th minute when they won a free kick on the left and Giorgian de Arrascaeta swung in a dangerous delivery that centre-back Léo Pereira met with a close-range header, beating goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy to make it 1-0.
Still riding the momentum from his brace against Cruz Azul earlier in the week, de Arrascaeta again showed his quality from set pieces, and Flamengo continued to create chances as the first half wore on, while Pyramids’ midfield found it difficult to gain control of the ball.
The Egyptian side did manage to threaten shortly before half-time when Fiston Mayele broke through on goal, but Flamengo goalkeeper Agustín Rossi came off his line decisively to deny him in their first real sight of goal.
Pyramids emerged from the interval with greater urgency, and Mayele sent a volley over the bar early in the second half before Mahmoud Zalaka struck the side netting as they pushed for an equaliser.
Just as the Egyptians seemed to be growing into the contest, Flamengo struck again from another dead-ball situation: In the 52nd minute, de Arrascaeta delivered a superb free kick and Danilo rose on the right side of the box to power a header into the right corner, doubling the Brazilian side’s advantage and restoring their control.
As the game moved into its final phase, Pyramids kept searching for a way back, with Mayele and Mohanad Lashin both forcing Rossi into action and substitute Ahmed Atef also trying to test the defence, but every attempt was repelled by a well-organised Flamengo back line.
Flamengo, meanwhile, continued to pose a threat on the break and nearly added a third in stoppage time when late substitute Pedro drew a sharp save from El Shenawy, though by then the outcome was already beyond doubt.
The final whistle confirmed Flamengo’s 2-0 victory, the lifting of the FIFA Challenger Cup, and a mouth-watering FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2025 final against PSG, pitting the South American and European champions against each other under the lights.
---
Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content.
Instagram - @qatarliving
X - @qatarliving
Facebook - Qatar Living
YouTube - qatarlivingofficial
