Standout figure drags Flu back into it with incisive first half spark | OneFootball

Luciano Acosta pulled one back in the 40th minute with a right-footed finish, his strike not enough in Fluminense's 2-1 defeat to Palmeiras.

Acosta timed his run into the centre of the box and guided his shot to the middle of the net, trimming Verdão's early advantage before the interval. The Argentina playmaker consistently found central pockets as Flu pushed up the pitch.

Three minutes later, he tried again from range, missing to the right (43.). The threat was constant while he was on, before he was withdrawn at the break.

Acosta finished with three attempts, two on target, plus three key passes and five touches in the opposition box. Those numbers underlined how he connected attacks and kept Tricolor Carioca in striking distance.

Next up, Tricolor Carioca face Vasco da Gama in the Carioca semi-finals second leg. Palestra meet São Paulo in the Paulista semi-finals.