Fluminense switch off, Vitória turn it round, but stoppage-time leveller | OneFootball

Fluminense drew 2-2 with Vitória on Saturday night at the Maracanã, in the 15th round of the Brazilian Championship. Tricolor took the lead with John Kennedy still in the first half, conceded a comeback in the second half in a span of four minutes, but managed to avoid defeat in stoppage time with a goal from Kevin Serna.

The match

First half

Fluminense and Vitória had a slow start to the match at the Maracanã. Both teams struggled to create clear chances, and the game remained scrappy in the opening minutes.

Fluminense’s first good chance came in the 14th minute, when Lucho Acosta set up Nonato for a dangerous shot that went just wide. Even so, the pace of the match stayed low, with few attempts and many build-up mistakes until the latter part of the half.

Tricolor managed to open the scoring in the 36th minute. After a corner kick, the ball fell to John Kennedy in the box, and he took advantage to find the net. After the goal, Fluminense started defending deeper and gave up possession to Vitória. In a first half with few chances, the Rio side went into the break leading 1-0.

Second half

Fluminense came back better for the second half and almost doubled the lead just five minutes in. Lucho Acosta made a great individual play inside the box and pulled it back for John Kennedy, who tried a backheel finish, but the ball went just wide. Shortly after, Savarino switched it to Soteldo, whose shot forced the Vitória goalkeeper into a great save.

Despite Tricolor’s good spell, Vitória equalized in the 17th minute. After a VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty for Alisson’s foul inside the box. Renato Kayzer converted the spot kick to level the match. Four minutes later came the turnaround: Renê fired a left-footed shot into Fábio’s corner to put the visitors ahead, taking advantage of a Fluminense blackout at the Maracanã.

Looking for a response, head coach Luis Zubeldía made attacking changes, bringing on Hércules, Castillo and Serna, followed by Riquelme and Guga. The pressure paid off in stoppage time. In the 46th minute, John Kennedy played Kevin Serna through, and he chipped the goalkeeper to equalize. Fluminense still tried to push in the final minutes, but could not avoid the setback.

How does it stand?

With the draw against Vitória in the Brazilian Championship, Fluminense move to 27 points and remain in third place, behind Flamengo and Palmeiras.

Tricolor’s next match will be on Tuesday against Operário in the second leg of the Copa do Brasil.

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