Fluminense beat Portuguesa and momentarily assumed the leadership of the Carioca Championship. The result by 1 to 0, with a goal from Germán Cano, took the tricolor to reach 15 points and surpass the Basque. The maintenance of first place depends on today’s game, at 20h, between Cruz-Maltino and Botafogo.
Flu’s victory at Nilton Santos — the fifth in a row in the Guanabara Cup — came even with coach Abel Braga sparing the holders, giving the team a run. That’s why Cano started, as well as other players who performed very well, like Jhon Arias and Calegari. The Argentine striker, a new face in 2022, reached the second goal with the tricolor shirt of the season.
In the next round, Flu visits Nova Iguaçu, Wednesday, at 21:35, in Luso-Brasileiro. Lusa will host Boavista on Thursday at 4 pm, in the same stadium.
who did well
The right side of Fluminense was the best sector of the team in the match. And a lot of that is down to the volume of play that Calegari was able to print in the game. Marking pressure, supporting a lot and even using the strength in the arm to play in the area the kick-in that resulted in Cano’s goal. In the first half, Calegari even hit the crossbar in a beautiful kick from outside the area.
John Arias regrets missed chance in the match between Fluminense and Portuguesa for Carioca
Image: Peter Ilicciev/Agencia Framing/Estadao Conteudo
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Arias was also very good in the game, although he missed two clear chances. In the dynamics of the match, he worked with speed and moved very well. Dribbling was also an issue. But missed opportunities prevented the score from being more elastic. In the first half, he had the merit of putting pressure on goalkeeper Carlão and blocking a shot on the opposing ball’s exit. The ball was left for the tricolor, but the goalkeeper recovered and avoided the goal. In the final stage, once again Arias came face to face with Carlão, but the submission was defended. The size of the disappointment, despite the good performance, was stamped on Arias’ expression when he was replaced by Willian Bigode. Abel Braga gave him a hug to comfort him.
who was bad
Midfielder Nathan differed from the rest of the team and showed that he is still not in the best physical and technical conditions. He wasn’t that creative and the finishing chances he had were poorly executed. It was not by chance that he was substituted in the 31st minute of the second half, when Abel Braga was looking for more gas for the team, inserting Luiz Henrique.
Fluminense’s performance
Fluminense, as a whole, behaved very well in the match. Even in a first half in which it went blank, the prospect of victory was clear by the way the tricolor created chances. It was just a matter of time before the goal was scored.
Positively, the system with three defenders provided freedom for the two wingers. The point is that, up front, the connection with Cano took a while to happen. The striker spent the first stage missing, despite the opportunities that the Flu, collectively, created.
Portugal’s performance
Lusa’s bet was the aerial ball. That’s how the main danger moves of the Flu’s opponent were born. A gap or another in the area gave the fans chills. Especially in the first half. Goalkeeper Fábio, however, did not need to make such complicated saves. Portuguesa is an organized team, which can project a calm Carioca in relation to relegation.
Guys praise Goose
Paulo Henrique Ganso was only on the field in the 45th minute of the second half. But as soon as coach Abel Braga called him to the edge of the field and the crowd realized that the midfielder was going to the field, the immediate response was full of affection. People shouted the name of Goose, giving that moral support, when the game was already solved.
game chronology
Fluminense’s victory was fair, given what the team created against Portuguesa. But the first half had a zero score, as the aim was not up to date. Arias and Calegari could have opened the scoring. But that only happened in the 13th minute of the second half, when the tricolor winger launched the side in the area. The head shave left the ball for Cano. shrewd. he turned fast and hit left-handed, with no chance for Carlão. In celebration, of course, he made the L, for Lorenzo. It’s already traditional.
Already in difficulties, Portuguesa did not have the strength to react. The counterattack attempts were very well neutralized by the Flu defense, which had a good day. David Duarte, Manoel and Luccas Claro, in general, played a safe game.
Datasheet
Fluminense 1 x 0 Portuguese
Data: 13/02/2022
Location: Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Time: 16:00 (from Brasilia)
Referee: Bruno Arleu de Araujo
Assistants: Thiago Rosa de Oliveira Esposito and Raphael de Almeida Tavares dos Reis
Fourth Referee: Matheus Carneiro Torres
Yellow cards: Leandro Amaro, Sidney (Portuguese)
Goals: Cano, at 7’/2nd (1-0)
Fluminense: Fábio, David Duarte, Manoel and Luccas Claro; Calegari, Nonato (Yago Felipe), Martinelli and Cris Silva; Nathan (Luiz Henrique); Jhon Arias (Willian Bigode) and Germán Cano (Ganso). Coach: Abel Braga.
Portuguese: Carlão, Watson, Marcão, Leandro Amaro and Sanchez; Victor Feitosa (Sidney), Patrick (Junior Pirambu), Jhonnatan, Maikinho (Cafu) and Romarinho; Bruno Santos. Coach: Marcus Grippi
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