Flúnel through time: Fluminense's 2007 Copa do Brasil opener | OneFootball

Fluminense begins another knockout challenge this season, and tonight’s clash against Operário-PR brings back memories of the opening match of the 2007 Copa do Brasil title-winning campaign.

The match also marks a first: it will be the first time in history that Fluminense and Operário face each other in an official match.

The start of a historic campaign

In the opening round of the 2007 Copa do Brasil, Fluminense faced ADESG in Acre and took the first step toward a campaign that would end with the title.

The context of that match was delicate. Tricolor was without a permanent head coach after the departure of PC Gusmão, and was led by interim manager Vinícius Eutrópio.

Even with instability on the sidelines, Fluminense managed to build a 2-1 away win, with goals from Soares and Alex Dias.

At the time, the Copa do Brasil rules stated that if the visiting team won by two or more goals, it would eliminate the second leg. Since the victory came by only one goal, the tie moved on to the Maracanã.

In the return leg, Tricolor made light work of the opponent and cruised to a 6-0 rout, sealing qualification and continuing the campaign that would end with the club’s first-ever title.

Match sheet — ADESG 1 x 2 Fluminense (2007)

Competition: Copa do BrasilVenue: Arena da Floresta, Rio Branco (AC)Referee: Washington José Alves de Souza (AM)Assistant referees: Basílio Monteiro da Silva (AM) and Djalma Silva de Souza (AM)

ADESG:Marlon; Léo (Igor), Adriano and Aguinaldo; Piu, Japão, Bigal (Diego), Samuel and Fernando; Juninho and Zico (Da Silva).Head coach: José Lopes Risada

Fluminense:Ricardo Berna; Carlinhos, Thiago Silva, Roger and Ivan; Fabinho, Arouca (Rafael Moura), Cícero and Carlos Alberto; Alex Dias and Soares (Lenny).Head coach: Vinícius Eutrópio (interim)

Goals: Soares (25’/1st half), Alex Dias (30’/2nd half), Diego (34’/2nd half)Red card: Diego (ADESG)Yellow cards: Bigal, Juninho, Adriano, Japão, Samuel, Diego, Igor, Aguinaldo, Da Silva (ADESG); Ivan, Carlos Alberto, Fabinho, Carlinhos, Roger (Fluminense)

📅 Next chapter

Fluminense begins its 2026 Copa do Brasil campaign this Wednesday, 04/23/26, at 9:30 p.m., against Operário-PR at Germano Krüger Stadium, in a match valid for the national competition.

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