🌎 Andreas Pereira gives Flamengo first-leg advantage over Tolima | OneFootball

Andreas Pereira’s memorable first-half strike ensured Flamengo left Tolima victorious following the sides’ Copa Libertadores round of 16 tie on Wednesday.

Scorers: Pereira 17′

Juan Fernando Caicedo looked to have given the hosts a surprise lead in the seventh minute at the Estadio Manuel Murillo Toro but a VAR review backed up the assistant referee’s offside flag.

Flamengo soaked up that early pressure from their Colombian opponents and took the lead just after the quarter-hour mark when Pereira, who is on loan from Manchester United, let fly from distance to leave Los Pijaos goalkeeper Alexander Domínguez flat-footed.

However the Rubro-Negro were guilty of complacency in possession at the back, and it took a goal-line clearance from Léo Pereira to save goalkeeper Santos’ blushes and prevent Tolima from equalising.

With Fla manager Dorival Júnior serving a one-match Conmebol suspension, his assistant Lucas Silvestre took control of the technical area for the night.

And he oversaw a clean sheet, which gives the Mengão the upper hand heading into next Wednesday’s second leg at the Maracanã.