By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A Hernane hat-trick was enough to put Flamengo into the next round of the 2013 Copa do Brasil last night as the Rubro-Negro comprehensively defeated Remo 3-0. After a 1-0 win in the first leg away from home Fla went through with a 4-0 aggregate and will play Paraíban outfit Campinense in the second round.
Flamengo continued their good form after winning the Fla-Flu classico last Sunday. And having opened the scoring at the weekend Hernane put in a match winning performance yesterday.
He broke the deadlock ten minutes before the interval, finishing off Rafinha’s excellent supply. The scoreline would have been greater at half-time had it not been for Fabiano’s heroics in the Remo goal.
Then just four minutes into the second half Hernane doubled Fla’s lead, evading two markers to finish calmly. With the second goal Flamengo took their foot off the gas and allowed their opponents back into the contest, Felipe forced into action on more than one occasion as Remo threatened an unlikely comeback.
Yet on seventy minutes Hernane wrapped up proceedings while at the same time putting the cherry on his own cake. Fabiano could only parry Elias’ effort and the number nine tucked home the rebound to claim the match ball.
Meanwhile, Botafogo could only muster a goalless draw away to Sobradinho in the first leg of their Copa do Brasil tie. The return encounter will be next Thursday, April 25th, in Volta Redonda.
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