Qualified! Fluminense lose to Platense, but reach Libertadores semis | OneFootball

Fluminense have qualified for the semifinals of the 2026 Copa Libertadores. Tricolor lost 2-1 to Platense this Tuesday at the Ciudad de Vicente López stadium in Buenos Aires, but went through thanks to their 2-0 win in the first leg at the Maracanã.

Fluminense had a first half to forget. Defensively, a disaster; in attack, they posed virtually no threat. Tricolor were pinned back by Platense and saw the advantage built at the Maracanã disappear in just 45 minutes in Argentina. The first goal came from Mainero’s feet. The No. 7 shot, the ball took a deflection off Hércules and wrong-footed Fábio. Then, in stoppage time, Mainero appeared again, this time to deliver a perfect cross for Sepúlveda, who rose unmarked and headed the ball into the net. It could have been even worse. While the match was still level, Fábio saved Fluminense with a great stop from Ignacio Vázquez’s header.

After the break, Marcão did not make any changes to the team and chose only to make adjustments in the dressing room talk. And Fluminense did, in fact, come back better for the second half. Just 11 minutes in, Canobbio won the ball back in his own half and started the move that led to Tricolor’s goal. Martinelli carried it on and passed to Hulk, who returned it to the Uruguayan. Canobbio beat a defender inside the box and placed it into the corner to cut the deficit and put Fluminense back in front in the tie. In the 26th minute, Marcão made his first substitution: Soteldo made way for Serna. Shortly after, Ganso complained of pain and also left the field, replaced by Lucho Acosta. With the changes in attack, Fluminense began to look more to counterattacks and had the chance to all but seal qualification through Hulk. The No. 7, however, did not connect well with his right foot and sent it over the bar. Unlike the first half, Platense could not apply the same pressure, but they still threatened from aerial balls and forced Fábio into another miracle save. Vázquez rose unmarked and headed from point-blank range, but the Tricolor goalkeeper made a great save. On the rebound, Mendía shot straight at Fábio, who came up big again to prevent the goal.

Now Fluminense await the definition of their semifinal opponent. Palmeiras and LDU face each other this Wednesday, at the altitude of Quito, in the second leg of the quarterfinals. The São Paulo side won the first match 1-0 at Nubank Parque.

Tricolor return to action next Sunday at 4 p.m. against Corinthians at Neo Química Arena in the 28th round of the Brasileirão.

Photo: Marcelo Gonçalves/FFC

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