Corinthians beaten by Fluminense at Maracanã, slide goes on | OneFootball

Corinthians faced Fluminense on Wednesday night (1) at the Maracanã Stadium, in a match valid for the ninth round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship, and lost 3-1. Alvinegro’s goal was scored by defensive midfielder André in the closing stages of the second half. The result keeps Corinthians in 11th place with 10 points — two wins, four draws, and three losses — with eight goals scored and 10 conceded.

The Corinthians coaching staff could not count on the following players for the match: goalkeeper Hugo Souza (FIFA date), left-back Hugo Farias (recovering from knee surgery), defensive midfielder Raniele (serving a suspension), midfielder André Carrillo (FIFA date), as well as forwards Kaio César (perifibrotic inflammation in the thigh), Gui Negão (grade 2 muscle injury), and Memphis Depay (muscle strain).

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Given that, coach Dorival Júnior chose to start the match with: Kauê Camargo; Matheuzinho, Gabriel Paulista, Gustavo Henrique and Matheus Bidu (Fabrizio Angileri); Allan, Charles (Matheus Pereira), André, Breno Bidon (Jesse Lingard) and Rodrigo Garro (Dieguinho); Yuri Alberto (Zakaria Labyad).

The bench options were: Felipe Longo, Pedro Milans, Fabrizio Angileri, André Ramalho, João Pedro Tchoca, Matheus Pereira, Dieguinho, Jesse Lingard, Zakaria Labyad, Kayke, Pedro Raul, and Vitinho.

Fluminense lineup

Coach Luis Zubeldía fielded the following team to start the match: Fábio; Samuel Xavier, Jemmes, Freytes and Renê; Martinelli, Hércules and Lucho Acosta; Savarino, Kevin Serna and John Kennedy.

Refereeing

The referee was Davi De Oliveira Lacerda (ES), assisted by Rafael da Silva Alves (RS) and Douglas Pagung (ES). The fourth official and the VAR were, respectively, Anderson Ribeiro Gonçalves (GO) and Rodrigo D. Alonso Ferreira (SC).

Next match

After facing Fluminense at the Maracanã, Corinthians now turns its attention to the continuation of the Brazilian Championship. That is because next Sunday (5), at 7:30 p.m. (Brasília time), Alvinegro hosts Internacional at Neo Química Arena in a match valid for the tenth round of the national competition.

First half

The opening minutes of the match between Fluminense and Corinthians saw the club from Parque São Jorge create some danger after goalkeeper Kauê Camargo launched the ball forward toward left-back Matheus Bidu, but Fábio came off his line to claim it. Corinthians, in fact, adopted a higher press in the opening moments.

In the very first minute, Corinthians won the ball back in the attacking half. It fell to André, who made a good move and found Yuri Alberto at the edge of the box with his back to goal. The number 9 laid it off for Allan to hit it hard, and Fábio parried it out for a corner! Rodrigo Garro’s delivery from the right ended up in the hands of the Rio team’s goalkeeper.

Shortly after, Charles committed a foul in midfield. From a rehearsed set piece in midfield, Fluminense threatened, but the Corinthians defense smothered the clear chance. After nearly 10 minutes, the match was evenly balanced, with Fluminense trying to hurt Alvinegro mainly down the flanks through switches of play and quick passing.

In the 13th minute, Samuel Xavier sent in a dangerous waist-high cross, Gabriel Paulista miskicked it, and Matheuzinho cleared the danger. Moments later, John Kennedy received the ball in midfield and tried a firm shot, but Kauê Camargo gathered it comfortably. Shortly afterward, Acosta crossed from the left toward Serna at the far post, and Matheuzinho sent it out for a corner.

From the set piece, Corinthians cleared the danger, and on the rebound, Acosta shot straight wide. In the 16th minute, Hércules crossed from the left, Gabriel Paulista cleared it, and Martinelli, with a deflection, shot wide. After a short corner routine from the right, the ball went straight out on the left side. Three minutes later, Fluminense scored the opener!

Kevin Serna was played in behind, beat Gabriel Paulista in a foot race, surged into the box and passed to Jhon Kennedy, who rounded Kauê and opened the scoring. Fluminense 1-0 Corinthians. At the start of the move, Breno Bidon tried a backheel pass to Rodrigo Garro, Renê intercepted and sent Serna through down the flank.

In the 23rd minute, Samuel Xavier launched the ball toward midfield for Jhon Kennedy, the Corinthians defense got tangled up, and the ball fell to the number 9, who found Lucho Acosta on the right. The number 32 drove to the byline and crossed waist-high for Serna. The number 90, however, did not arrive in time to send it into the net.

Two minutes later, Corinthians tried to build through the middle and André Luiz shot over, with a deflection. From the set piece, the Fluminense defense cleared it. In the 30th minute, Matheus Bidu was fouled in midfield after combining with Rodrigo Garro. From the free kick, the number 8 picked out Gabriel Paulista, who headed wide.

After opening the scoring, Fluminense began defending deeper, leaving the ball a bit more with Corinthians, who, when getting into the attacking half, lacked effectiveness. In the 32nd minute, Jhon Kennedy was sent through by Freytes and shot over Kauê Camargo’s goal.

By the 36th minute of the first half, Fluminense had control of the match and was creating the better opportunities. Despite starting well, pressing high and forcing a great save from Fábio, Corinthians was suffering from individual mistakes, especially from midfield backward, and posed little threat to the Rio side.

In the 38th minute, Fluminense put together a move down the left with one-touch passing, and Lucho Acosta nearly found himself one-on-one with Kauê to finish, but Gabriel Paulista provided cover. Four minutes later, from a move down the right, Savarino sent in a dangerous low cross into the box, and the Corinthians goalkeeper gathered it.

Kauê was called into action again in the next play, when Kevin Serna received the ball on the left wing, cut onto his right foot and hit a low shot into the hands of the number 51. When the clock reached 45 minutes, three more were added. In the 47th minute, Fluminense scored its second. The Rio side built from the back and Jhon Kennedy flicked it on with his heel for Serna. The number 90 burst forward and hit a low shot off the post. On the rebound inside the box, defensive midfielder Hércules made it two. Score: Fluminense 2-0 Corinthians.

At the 48-minute mark, the first half ended. Corinthians, despite starting the match well, saw Fluminense impose itself over the course of the first half and, as a result, take control of the match after the opening goal. That superiority allowed them to go into the break with a two-goal advantage.

Second half

To start the second half, coach Dorival Júnior brought on left-back Fabrizio Angileri, midfielder Matheus Pereira, and attacking midfielder Jesse Lingard in place of Matheus Bidu, Charles, and Breno Bidon, respectively. Just 48 seconds into the second half, Matheus Pereira received the ball in midfield and shot toward Fábio’s left corner, with the goalkeeper parrying it out for a corner.

From the set piece, the Fluminense defense cleared the danger. Three minutes into the second half, Corinthians had more of the ball and was spending more time in the attacking third. In the ninth minute, defensive midfielder Allan was sent off. The number 29 had been shown a yellow card after an altercation with Lucho Acosta and moments later made an obscene gesture toward the opposing player, leading to his dismissal after a VAR review.

In the 13th minute, Fluminense threatened again through Savarino. The Rio side put together a good move down the right in attack, and the number 11 fired a strong shot into the top corner, only for Kauê Camargo to make the save. Four minutes later, after a ball was lofted into the area, Hércules picked up the loose ball and shot, with a deflection, over the bar. From the corner, the danger was cleared.

In the 19th minute, Jesse Lingard found Rodrigo Garro by the byline on the left. The Argentine number 8 crossed, and Gabriel Paulista headed wide. In the 20th minute, Serna received the ball by the byline on the left, cut inside his marker and found John Kennedy inside the box, whose shot was saved by Kauê. On the rebound, Samuel Xavier hit a long-range effort into the top corner, and once again the Terrão graduate parried it out for a corner!

Shortly afterward, John Kennedy was sent in behind and shot over Kauê’s goal. Then came Corinthians’ final two changes: midfielders Dieguinho and Zakaria Labyad came on for Yuri Alberto and Rodrigo Garro, respectively. In the 34th minute, Fluminense launched a counterattack and Savarino shot over the goal.

Four minutes later, Fluminense scored its third. The Rio side built a move down the right and the ball fell to Castillo, who finished into Kauê’s corner to score. In the 40th minute, Labyad found Lingard, who went through one-on-one and shot straight at goalkeeper Fábio! Three minutes later, Corinthians got its first goal! After a loose ball inside the box following a corner kick, defensive midfielder André fired it into Fábio’s corner to cut the deficit!

When the clock hit 45 minutes, six minutes were added. In the 49th minute, Matheus Pereira committed a foul in midfield and was shown a yellow card. From the set piece, Ganso shot into Kauê’s hands. In the next move, after a loose ball inside the box, Lingard had his shot blocked and nearly scored Corinthians’ second! Two more minutes were added. At 53 minutes, full-time. Fluminense 3-1 Corinthians.

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