Fluminense’s cup spirit: grit and skill drive Copa do Brasil run | OneFootball

The mystique of Fluminense in knockout competitions made its presence felt once again, in the most characteristic way possible. It was known that overturning the disadvantage against Bahia, currently 4th in the Brazilian Championship, would not be a simple task, especially after the 1-0 defeat in the first leg. However, the qualification was achieved with the hallmark of knockout tournaments, in the style that Renato Gaúcho values: blending bravery with technical quality. The 2-0 scoreline, achieved this Wednesday at Maracanã, was fitting for a team that proved its worth to be among the top four.

The qualification seems fair when analyzing the full 180-minute encounter. In Salvador, the adverse result did not reflect the performance on the field. In Rio de Janeiro, Bahia showed very few resources to secure the spot, while the Tricolor imposed an undeniable supremacy, especially in the second half. On the field, three figures were essential: Thiago Silva, Canobbio, and Lucho Acosta. Off the field, Renato Gaúcho was the great architect of the victory.

The perception of the coach's mastery was shared by the fans, as summarized by influencer Phill, from the channel “A Voz da Torcida”: “A football massacre by Renato.”

The duel at Maracanã can be analyzed in two distinct acts. In the first, vigor prevailed, enhanced by the much-celebrated week of rest and preparation. Fluminense, with its formation of three defensive midfielders, was as fierce as usual but lacked creativity. At halftime, Renato made the change that sealed the game's and the spot's fate by opening up space for talent. The substitution of Nonato, who was not having a bad performance, for Lucho Acosta, who completely changed the game's dynamics, is the turning point to understand the overwhelming superiority that followed.

The battle for the spot was decided in the crucial area of the field. By unlocking its own midfield, Fluminense managed to overpower Bahia's, which had no answers for the new tactical setup. When the team added inspiration to perspiration, qualification became a natural consequence. The Bahia team, disoriented throughout the match, succumbed to the pressure of approximately 50,000 Tricolor fans. The Tricolor, now a semifinalist, reaffirmed its vocation for knockout competitions.

By opting to maintain the scheme with three defensive midfielders, Renato Gaúcho faced a strategic puzzle. The one-goal defeat required an offensive stance, but at the same time, it was imperative not to expose themselves and concede a goal that would fatally complicate the knockout stage. Starting with Nonato represented a prudent choice, a calculated risk.

In the first half of the game, Fluminense focused its efforts on physical dominance and succeeded in most individual battles. The team suffocated the opponent in its defensive field, controlled possession, and allowed few spaces. The issue was that, once the physical challenge was overcome, the team stumbled upon its own creative limitation when it needed to build plays. The absence of a more refined organizer was evident.

The excellent initiatives of Martinelli and Thiago Silva, breaking through Bahia's defensive lines, were of little use if the ball reached the feet of an isolated Nonato or if the wingers, Serna and Canobbio, invariably made the worst decisions in one-on-one situations. The dilemma repeated itself: a team with plenty of stamina but lacking sharper thinking. The statistic of only two shots on goal in the first half, both from outside the area, illustrates this scenario well.

This is where Renato Gaúcho's merits become indisputable. Returning for the second half, the entry of Lucho Acosta proved precise and fundamental, precisely by adding the missing ingredient: technical quality combined with verticality. With a more incisive and direct Fluminense, opening the score became a matter of time.

The Argentine initiated the play that culminated in Renê's cross. Inside the area, the penalty suffered by Michel Araújo was coolly converted by Canobbio. From there, Fluminense not only maintained the intensity to corner Bahia but also had the necessary repertoire to create multiple opportunities. The second goal, in fact, could have happened much earlier. Bahia, on the other hand, barely managed to threaten, especially after the changes made by Rogério Ceni, which had no effect.

This relentless pressure bore fruit in the goal that secured qualification. In a free-kick by Canobbio, Thiago Silva appeared to deflect it into the net. According to coach Renato Gaúcho himself, it was a rehearsed play, a direct result of the week's training. Besides the Tricolor's merit, Bahia's inability to react continued to surprise, being dominated in all sectors of the field. A well-deserved victory for the team that was overwhelmingly superior.

In the final moments, it was only necessary to manage the advantage and wait for the time to pass. Fluminense advanced not only for its tradition in cups but for being the superior team in all aspects over the 180 minutes. It deserved to win at Fonte Nova and was sovereign at Maracanã. The spot in the semifinals is in excellent hands.

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