Fluminense got even closer to the group stage of the Copa Libertadores after defeating Olimpia (Paraguay) 3-1, this Wednesday (9) at the Nilton Santos stadium, in the first leg of the third preliminary phase of the continental competition.
VEEEEEEEEEEEEENCE THE FLUMINENSE! GERMÁN CANO AND LUIZ HENRIQUE MARCAM AND THE #TIMEDEGUERREIROS COME OUT IN FRONT OF OLIMPIA FOR THE THIRD PHASE OF LIBERTADORES! ???????? pic.twitter.com/NS3i7YAnJa
— Fluminense FC ?? (@FluminenseFC) March 10, 2022
The definition of the classified for the Libertadores group stage will be defined next Wednesday (16), from 21:30 (Brasilia time), at the Defensores del Chaco stadium, in Asunción (Paraguay).
Pushed by 31,799 fans, Tricolor das Laranjeiras started the match very well. And the goal was not long in coming. At 12 minutes the ball was lifted in the area in a corner kick, Luiz Henrique deflected it with a header and Germán Cano did not forgive.
However, five minutes later, what not even the most pessimistic fan of the Rio de Janeiro team could have expected, the goalkeeper Fábio fails and delivers the ball to Derlis González’s feet, who left everything the same.
Olimpia’s goal destabilized the Laranjeiras team, which started to fail too much and offer spaces for the Paraguayans to create chances, especially in counterattacks. Fluminense still had a clear opportunity to score the second with Willian Bigode in the 39th minute, but the equality lasted until the break.
However, Fluminense’s nervousness remained in the locker room, and the Laranjeiras team reached the second with less than 1 minute of the ball rolling in the final stage. Luiz Henrique received on the right, left two opponents behind and reached the baseline. He pulled the ball to his left leg and kicked it, almost without an angle, to score a great goal.
??? The man is mad, professor! Luiz Henrique scored a great goal to put the @FluminenseFC ahead!#Liberators pic.twitter.com/dNN6aMcU5w
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@LibertadoresBR) March 10, 2022
And Tricolor wanted more, and got it at 22, when Willian received on the right wing and crossed low to the middle of the area. Goalkeeper Olveira partially defended and Germán Cano scored his second in the game, the 6th goal of the Argentine striker for Fluminense. This was Fluminense’s 100th goal in Libertadores history.
IMMEDIATELY
?: Lucas Merçon/FFC pic.twitter.com/IuGnCa2nn1
— Fluminense FC ?? (@FluminenseFC) March 10, 2022
The Laranjeiras team still had the possibility to expand, but the score remained at 3 to 1 until the final whistle.
Before the decisive match against Olimpia, Fluminense has a commitment for the last round of the Campeonato Carioca, against Boavista on Saturday (12).
