“Luciano Acosta opened the scoring with six minutes gone, giving Fluminense an early foothold in the match and setting the tone for what looked like it would be a comfortable home night in the Copa Libertadores.”
Pivotal“Against the run of play, Carlos Melgar levelled for Club Bolívar after a frantic goalmouth scramble in which Kennedy had forced a save moments earlier, stunning the home crowd and resetting the contest.”
Pivotal“Goal-scorer Luciano Acosta collected a yellow card for arguing just before half-time, a booking that put him on a knife-edge for future Copa Libertadores fixtures and added a tetchy edge to the closing stages of the first half.”
“John Kennedy broke the deadlock for the second time, prodding Fluminense back in front just after the hour mark following a sustained period of pressure that Bolívar had been scrambling to repel since the introduction of substitutes.”
Pivotal
Fluminense
Club Bolívar
Outstanding performance
Fluminense•DefenderFluminense were utterly dominant from start to finish, controlling 74% of possession and generating 24 shots against a Club Bolívar side that registered just five, yet found themselves level at the break after Carlos Melgar's equaliser cancelled out Luciano Acosta's early opener. The Rio side's clinical failings — missing four big chances — gave the tie a more uncertain feel than the territory and passing numbers suggested, with Bolívar's goalkeeper making six saves to keep the Bolivian visitors in the contest far longer than the xG battle warranted. John Kennedy, who had already tested the keeper in the build-up to Bolívar's equaliser, made amends in the 71st minute to restore Fluminense's lead and ultimately clinch the three points. The result reinforces Fluminense's standing in the Copa Libertadores group stage and continues their strong continental form, while Bolívar, who offered almost nothing going forward after the equaliser, face a difficult road to progression.
How entertaining was this match?
Ezequiel Cano takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Rodrigo Castillo's header is saved.
Rodrigo Castillo's header is saved.
Samuel Xavier Brito takes a shot with his right foot, but it's saved.
Luis Paz is on, and Jesus Sagredo is off.
Lucas Chavez takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Robson Tome takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Yellow card issued to Paulo Henrique Chagas de Lima, known as Ganso.
Jefferson Savarino takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Paulo Henrique Chagas de Lima, Ganso, replaces Jefferson Savarino.
Lucas Chavez is on, and Pato Rodriguez is off.
Samuel Xavier Brito comes on for Claudio Rodrigues Gomes. Guga is also substituted in.
Ezequiel Cano replaces John Kennedy for Germany.
John KennedyJohn Kennedy takes a left-footed shot and scores.
Goal! John Kennedy scores, making it 2-1.
Guilherme Antonio Arana Lopes takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Ervin Vaca comes on for Carlos Antonio Melgar Vargas.
Rodrigo Castillo attempts a header but misses the shot.
Carlos Antonio Melgar Vargas takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Rodrigo Castillo replaces Gustavo Nonato Santana.
Yeferson Julio Soteldo Martinez comes on for Agustin Canobbio Graviz.
Claudio Rodrigues Gomes takes a shot, but Guga saves it with a right-footed effort.
Dorny RomeroYellow CardDorny Romero receives a yellow card.
Jefferson Savarino takes a right-footed shot but misses.
The first half ends with a score of 1-1.
Agustin Canobbio Graviz takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Yellow card issued to Claudio Rodrigues Gomes and Guga.
Luciano AcostaYellow CardLuciano Federico Acosta receives a yellow card.
John Kennedy takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Hercules Pereira do Nascimento takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Jefferson Savarino takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Ignacio Da Silva Oliveira attempts a header but misses the shot.
Santiago EcheverríaYellow CardSantiago Echeverría receives a yellow card.
Carlos MelgarCarlos Antonio Melgar Vargas takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
assist: Dorny Romero
Goal! Carlos Antonio Melgar Vargas scores, bringing the match to 1-1.
John Kennedy takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Guilherme Antonio Arana Lopes takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Jefferson Savarino takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Dorny Romero's header shot misses the target.
Juan Pablo Freytes receives a yellow card.
John Kennedy takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Luciano AcostaLuciano Federico Acosta scores with a right-footed shot.
Luciano Federico Acosta scores with a right-footed shot.
Luciano Federico Acosta's header is blocked.
Luciano Federico Acosta attempts a header but misses the shot.
Fluminense find themselves in a precarious position in their Copa Libertadores group, sitting fourth with just two points from a run of draws and losses. Visitors Club Bolívar arrive at the iconic Maracanã in confident form, sitting second with five points and a real shot at pushing for the group's top spot. This is a must-win atmosphere clash under the Rio lights.
