The game was huge, and the Fluminense he had a performance worthy of his 119 years. Away from home, Tricolor dominated the game against River Plate, won 3-1, goals by Caio Paulista, Nene and Yago, and left Monumental de Núñez classified in the round of 16 of the Libertadores with the first place in group D.
In the end, the suffering of the last round, without the knockout spot being guaranteed, made up for it. Even with one more for much of the second half after Maidana’s expulsion, Flu conceded a goal at the end of the game, by Girotti, and had to deal with pressure from the Argentines. At 47, however, Yago took advantage of Abel Hernández’s calm and beautiful pass to displace Armani and give the final numbers to the game.
Changes work, and Flu presses at the beginning
The first 45 minutes proved right to Roger Machado, criticized during the week for the lineups and changes in the team. With Caio Paulsita and Gabriel Teixeira bothering the front and the well-placed sides, Fluminense started the game solid and with good performance. The pressure at River Plate’s ball output worked, and Tricolor had good chances to open the scoring from the beginning.
Mature, goal comes out with Roger’s finger
The tricolor almost let out the scream of goal with Nino, at 9, in a header that drew paint from the crossbar. And they got scared at 11, when Borré forced Marcos Felipe to make two saves in the same move. At 21, however, the system worked since the beginning of the play: Samuel Xavier stole the ball in defense and pulled a counterattack. Fred received an open on the right and crossed perfectly for Caio Paulista to open the scoring. Roger wanted Caio to play in depth. It worked out.
Shortly thereafter, at 25, danger: Carrascal made a great move from the left and dropped a bomb on the crossbar. But it was just scared.
Fred becomes a waiter, and Nenê increases the score
Accustomed to swinging the nets, Fred had a waiter’s night at the Monumental de Núñez. After crossing for Caio Paulista’s goal, shirt number 9 gave Nenê a volley to take a volley and count on a diversion to increase. Nice move by the veteran duo, sometimes questioned in Fluminense, showing that nothing can replace talent.
Flu makes the best first half of 2021
Fluminense 2021 has a chronic problem: it solves little in the first half and usually enters the field devolved. At Monumental de Núñez, that didn’t happen. Tricolor made their best 45 minutes of the season in the most important game of the year. Proof that the ideas of Roger Machado – who usually has a star in substitutions – were correct.
Gallardo moves, and River improves
Back on the scoreboard, River Plate came back differently from the break. Coach Marcelo Gallardo didn’t want to wait the second half and made three moves. The Argentines traded Lecanda, Simón and Carrascal for Rojas, Palavecino and Suárez. The changes made the home team improve in the game: the first 15 minutes were more ball possession and occupation of the attacking field of the Tricolor, which in advantage, was able to go out on the counterattack.
Argentines lose their heads, and Maidana is expelled
When they were better in the game despite the adverse score, 20 minutes into the second half, River Plate was also outnumbered. After Matías Suárez hit Luccas Claro in a dead throw on the back line and took a yellow card, defender Maidana left his elbow in Caio Paulista’s face and was sent off by Uruguayan Esteban Ostojich.
Girotti down for River
With one more in the field and new pieces in the team after the substitutions of Roger Machado, Fluminense was under pressure. Needing the result, River Plate went up and lowered the scoring with Girotti, who beat Luccas Claro ahead and displaced Marcos Felipe in a cross from the right at 40 ‘of the second half.
Yago sacramenta victory
At 47, when he was under pressure, Fluminense took the epic victory at Monumental de Núñez. Yago took advantage of the tranquility and beautiful pass of Abel Hernández to displace Armani and give final numbers to the game.
‘Extra’ motivation before the game
Flu entered the field in Buenos Aires with “extra motivation”: the board paid the wages and image rights of the April cast and caught up with the cast.
DATASHEET
RIVER PLATE 1×3 FLUMINENSE
Data: 25/05/2021, Tuesday
Schedule: at 7:15 pm (from Brasilia)
Local: Monumental de Nuñez, Buenos Aires (ARG)
Referee: Esteban Ostojich (URU)
Assistants: Nicolas Tarán (URU) and Martin Soppi (URU)
Goals: Caio Paulista, 21 minutes from the 1st time (FLU), Nene, 28 minutes from the 1st time (FLU), Girotti, 40 minutes from the 2nd time (RIV) and Yago, 46 minutes from the 2nd time (FLU).
Yellow cards: De La Cruz, Martinez, Suárez (RIV), Martinelli, Samuel Xavier, Caio Paulista (FLU)
Red cards: Maidana (RIV)
RIVER PLATE: Armani; Lecanda (Robert Rojas), Maidana, Martinez e Casco; Biafore Peña, Santiago Simon (Matías Suárez), Carrascal (Palavecino) and De La Cruz; I erased (Girotti) and Alvarez. Technical: Marcelo Gallardo.
FLUMINENSE: Marcos Felipe; Samuel Xavier (Calegari), Nino, Luccas Claro and Egídio; Yago Felipe, Martinelli (Wellington) and Nenê (Cazares); Gabriel Teixeira, Fred (Abel Hernández) and Caio Paulista (Luiz Henrique). Technical: Roger Machado.
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