After poor start, Fluminense rally, but lose derby to Flamengo | OneFootball

Fluminense were beaten 2-1 by Flamengo this Sunday at the Maracanã in a derby match valid for the Brazilian Championship. After a difficult start, the Tricolor responded in the second half, pulled one back through Savarino, and pushed for an equalizer, but could not avoid defeat.

How did the match go?

First half

Just six minutes in, midfielder Lucho Acosta had to leave the pitch on a stretcher after being struck by the ball. A minute later, Flamengo opened the scoring. Pedro took advantage of a poor build-up play by Fábio and scored from very long range, just past midfield.

The Rubro-Negro side kept up the pressure. In the 12th minute, Gonzalo Plata got a shot away, the ball took a deflection and was heading in, but Fábio made a great save to prevent the second goal. Unable to find their rhythm, Fluminense struggled to play out from the back and build attacks.

Unable to respond offensively and under pressure for much of the opening half, Fluminense went into the break trailing in the derby.

Second half

Just four minutes into the second half, Plata burst forward at speed and forced Fábio into another great save, preventing a third goal. Two minutes later, however, Pedro doubled Flamengo’s lead by finishing with his chest after a cross from the left.

Even after conceding, Fábio remained the standout performer by stopping other clear chances from the opponent. In the 19th minute, Luis Zubeldía made changes, bringing on Savarino and Rodrigo Castillo. Fluminense began to grow into the match and, in the 76th minute, Savarino took advantage of a defensive mistake to pull one back.

In the closing stages, the Tricolor pressed in search of an equalizer, created good chances, and nearly leveled the derby through two headers from Castillo and a blocked shot by Guilherme Arana in stoppage time.

Still in added time, Carrascal was sent off for kicking a Fluminense player.

What does it mean?

With the derby defeat to Flamengo, Fluminense dropped three places and ended the match in fifth in the Brazilian Championship. Their rivals overtook the Tricolor, moved level on 20 points in the table, and took over second place.

Now Fluminense turn their focus to the Copa Libertadores. The team returns to action on Wednesday, when they face Independiente Rivadavia in the second round of the competition’s group stage.

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