Savarino stars as Fluminense thrash Nova Iguaçu in friendly | OneFootball

Fluminense thrashed Nova Iguaçu 6-1 in a friendly played at the Maracanã this Wednesday (08). The Tricolor side fell behind on the scoreboard but relied on an inspired night from Savarino to turn the match around. The Venezuelan scored two goals and had a hand in another one. Besides him, Hércules, Martinelli, JK, and Cano scored the other goals of the match.

This was the first of two friendlies Fluminense will play in the final stretch of the World Cup break as preparation for the return of the Brasileirão next week.

How the match went:

First Half:

Fluminense started the match on the front foot against Nova Iguaçu and nearly opened the scoring with two chances before the five-minute mark. In the very first minute, Guga received the ball on the right and sent a low cross into the middle of the box, and Lucho Acosta finished dangerously. In the fourth minute, Savarino found Hulk with a beautiful through ball, and Hulk shot wide with the ball just brushing the post. But it was Nova Iguaçu who scored first. In the 9th minute, Daniel Zavoli headed home unmarked between Freytes and Renê to open the scoring at the Maracanã.

Luis Zubeldía’s team did not let the tempo drop and kept pushing forward, though they had trouble breaking through the defense of the team from the Baixada Fluminense region. Their only shot came in the 23rd minute. Acosta slipped a lovely ball through to Savarino, the Venezuelan cut past the defender and shot, forcing a save from goalkeeper Mota; on the rebound, Hércules finished into the net to level the match. Still pressing and in control, the Tricolor soon found the go-ahead goal. Acosta played a quick one-two with Hulk, burst into the box, and delivered a perfect cross for Savarino to finish with practically an open goal.

The team of warriors kept pressing and nearly extended the lead through Hulk. Savarino delivered a perfect cross for the No. 7, who shot over the bar. Nova Iguaçu tried to apply some pressure in the closing minutes, but only managed a weak effort that was easily saved by Fábio.

Second Half:

Fluminense came back for the second half pressing Nova Iguaçu even harder in search of a bigger lead. And in the third minute, Lucho Acosta combined once again with Hulk and found Savarino alone to score the Tricolor’s third. Even after easing off the pace a little, the Tricolor continued to dominate every aspect of the match. Then Martinelli received the ball at the edge of the box and struck it delicately, placing it into the top corner of the Nova Iguaçu goalkeeper’s net.

After all 11 players were changed, the match cooled off a bit, but the Tricolor kept pushing. In the 36th minute, Germán Cano played Riquelme Felipe into space on a fast counterattack. The Xerém youngster drove into the box and squared it low for JK, who elegantly beat the defender before scoring Fluminense’s fifth goal. The Tricolor kept pressing and nearly added to the score with dangerous efforts from Cano, Wesley Natã, and Millán. In the 45th minute, Riquelme Felipe won the ball high up the pitch and Germán Cano beat the defender before scoring the Tricolor’s sixth goal.

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