Fluminense book their place in the Copa Libertadores semi-finals | OneFootball

Fluminense will play in the Copa Libertadores semifinal for the third time in its history. The team lost 2-1 to Platense on Tuesday night, the 15th, but secured qualification on aggregate. Flu won 2-0 at the Maracanã and will now chase its second Copa Libertadores title.

Tonight, in Argentina, Platense scored twice with ease through Maineiro and Sepúlveda. Canobbio scored Fluminense’s goal in Argentina. Hulk also had a clear chance to level the match, but wasted it.

A shameful first half by Fluminense

First of all, Fluminense put in a shameful performance in the opening 48 minutes of the match. The team merely watched Platense exchange passes comfortably. The Argentine coach outmaneuvered Marcão tactically, and he was unable to get the necessary instructions across to the players on the field. Being 2-0 down at halftime was actually flattering, not because of the chances created, but because of the Argentine side’s overall dominance.

Before the home side scored the first goal, Fábio made a great save in the 24th minute of the first half, needing two attempts to keep things from getting worse. Right after that, Thiago Silva cleared the danger. It was a warning of what was to come. In the 29th minute, the goalkeeper was not as lucky.

Mainero picked up a rebound at the edge of Fluminense’s box and hit a low shot. The ball took a deflection off Hércules and wrong-footed goalkeeper Fábio, who could only watch it go into his net. Flu were lost on the field and became even more rattled after the first goal.

Marcão’s team could not string two passes together to mount an attack and spent the entire first half without threatening the opposition goal. The second goal came in the 46th minute. Mainero drove forward down the right side of the attack and reached the byline.

He was given all the freedom by Renê to send in a cross to the far post. Thiago Silva failed to track Sepúlveda, who rose completely unmarked to head the ball into the back of the net and extend the lead before halftime.

Second half

Marcão did not make any substitutions, but he adjusted the tactical setup and Fluminense came back better in the second half. The team stopped taking so many risks. As a result, the goal did not take long to come. In the 14th minute, Canobbio won the ball back in defense and passed it to Martinelli.

The midfielder fed Hulk, who advanced into Platense’s half and played Canobbio through on the overlap down the left. The Uruguayan, who had started the move, beat a defender in the box and slotted it into the corner to pull one back. Hulk provided yet another assist to confirm his good form.

The goal gave Fluminense some breathing room, but the match remained tense until the hydration break. In the 32nd minute, Hulk missed an incredible chance. Canobbio made a good run down the left, entered the penalty area and squared it to Hulk. He was alone at the far post and shot over the bar.

In the 38th minute, Fábio produced two miracles, saving two point-blank shots to prevent what would have been Platense’s third goal. In the final minutes, Fluminense suffered, but managed to defend well. In the end, the team secured a hard-fought qualification.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.