1-0: Lima unblocks the champion at the Maracaná

Fluminense achieved a last-minute victory on Wednesday, 1-0, thanks to a header from Lima against a Atletico Mineiro who paid dearly for his conformism in the Maracana and now they are forced to come back at home to advance to the semifinals of the Libertadores Cup.

The Brazilian attacking midfielder, who had come off the bench, turned the tide in a lukewarm and unexciting match with a header in the 88th minute from a pass by Keno, who also came on in the second half.

Although the best of Flu, champion in 2023, was the Colombian international John Arias, who took control of the midfield.

Mineiro had periods of lucidity, but at no time did they put all their cards on the table, aware that the outcome of this 180-minute duel will be in front of their fans in seven days.

Only Hulk He sought victory for those led by the Argentine Gabriel Milito.

Both teams were coming from defeats in the Brazilian Championship and they entered fearfully. Nobody wanted to fail and give the opponent an advantage, something not out of the ordinary in these latitudes of the tournament.

These fears turned the entire encounter into a slow, low-substance film.

Flu dominated, but in a slow manner. Mineiro relied on counterattacks. Hulk was the most active of the roosters in the first and second half.

On the Carioca side, it shone AriasThe Colombian midfielder dropped down to receive the ball and start the play, he overflowed down the left and filtered passes that generated serious danger.

In one of those masterful touches he sent Diogo Barbosa running, who rushed the byline and saw Kevin Serna in the rearview mirror, although the Colombian, alone inside the penalty area, shot into the air in the best opportunity for the Rio de Janeiro team in the first half.

Fluminense went into the break feeling better, though. The only negative point was the limping condition of Thiago Silva, who went off injured at the interval.

The absence of the former Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea player was felt more than expected. Added to this was the fact that Mineiro came out with a different attitude and began to bite.

Hulk once again shot firmly from outside the area and once again he came up against Fábio.

Gustavo Scarpa and Guilherme Arana widened the Maracanã and surrounded a Flu that was affected by the departure of its captain. So much so that even Ganso and Thiago Santos began to argue among themselves before a corner kick.

Hand Menezes He wanted to turn the game around with a triple substitution and in one fell swoop Marcelo, former Real Madrid player, Lima and Germán Cano, who had not played due to injury since the end of July, came on.

And the home side regained control. Milito’s men, for their part, accepted the draw and that was their verdict.

Keno advanced down the left flank, brought down Brahian Palacios and put in a well-balanced cross into the box that Lima finished off. Everson touched the ball, but not enough and Fluminense goes to Belo Horizonte with a key victory to continue defending its crown.