🇧🇷 Super-sub João Gomes saves Flamengo's blushes in cup tie at Altos | OneFootball

João Gomes came off the bench to excellent effect to give Flamengo victory in their Copa do Brasil third round first leg against Série C side Altos.

Scorers: Manoel 62′; Pedro 65′, Gomes 79′

The Rubro-Negro opted for a relatively makeshift starting XI at the Albertão, with Ayrton Lucas making his debut at left-back in a side that did include first teamers in the shape of David Luiz, Diego, Bruno Henrique and Pedro.

However they found it difficult to break down their lower-league opponents, and it was Altos’ veteran striker Manoel who came closest to breaking the first-half deadlock when his fierce effort bounced off the crossbar with goalkeeper Santos looking on.

However the 33-year-old would not be denied after the break when he capitalised on an awful defensive header by Henrique to send a spectacular overhead kick to the net.

Henrique atoned just four minutes later by squaring the ball for Pedro to equalise from close range.

And the visitors took the lead just over 10 minutes from time when a trademark flat free-kick by Luiz came back off the upright and hit goalkeeper Marcelo before the ball was eventually forced home by Gomes.

Blushes saved then for the Mengão, who will expect to finish the job in relative comfort when Altos travel to the Maracanã for the second leg on 11 May.