Fluminense, who played half the game with fewer players due to the dismissal Samuel Xavierhe achieved, thanks to a double from Argentine Germán Cano, draw 2-2 with Internacional in the first leg of the rivalry between the Brazilian teams for the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores.
The ‘red’ team from Porto Alegre, who started with a deficit and managed to come back with goals from Spanish defender Hugo Mallo and scorer Alan Patricktook advantage of their numerical advantage on the field to leave the Maracaná stadium with an important draw as visitors.
The two clubs will have to determine one of the finalists of the Libertadores on October 4 in the second leg, where, although the series is open and whoever wins on any point will advance, Inter will have the advantage of playing at home, the Beira Río stadium in Porto Alegre.
The winner will face the winner of the series between Brazilian Palmeiras and Argentine Boca Juniors in the Libertadores final. The first game will be played tonight.
The two rivals put fully offensive teams on the field, Fluminense with former Real Madrid player Marcelo at left backand they made it clear from the first minutes that they would continue to attack in search of a clear advantage in the first leg.
In the first minutes, for the same reason, the game was very intense, with several scoring opportunities from both sides, and the Ecuadorian striker Enner Valencia ready to leave his mark at the Maracaná for Inter and the Argentine German Cano ready to show his effectiveness with Fluminense at home.
Cano opened the scoring
The Rio team opened the scoring in 9 minutes after a game started by the Colombian John Arias, completed by John Kennedy and Germán Cano finished with a powerful shot that beat Sergio Rochet.
The slight advantage allowed Fluminense to take the dominance, with chances for Keno and Arias which ended up saving Rochet, who was unstoppable Valencia, in a counter attack, scored a goal in the 17th minute that was disallowed out of place.
Roja al Flu and Hugo Mallo tie
But the dominance of the locals ended almost at the end of the first half after that the dismissal of defender Samuel Xavier for a double warning due to fouls against Valencia. With its full team on the field, Inter began to control the match at the Maracaná.
The visitors managed to go to the showers with a tied score thanks to the fact that, in the last play of the first half, the defender of Spain. Hugo Mallo, with a header and after an assist from René, scored his first goal for Inter.
Even if the referee disallows the goal for offside, After a VAR review, he validated it.
Inter reverses the score
With a numerical advantage on the field, Inter started the second half completely on the attack and in the 9th minute Mercado scored a goal with a header after an assist from Mallo, which ended up VAR annulment due to a hand touch.
Nine minutes later, Alan Patrickafter avoiding Marcelo inside the area, scored Inter’s second and put guests first.
Cano made it 2-2
But Inter let Fluminense compose themselves and start creating danger, mainly with Arias and Cano, until the Argentine, in the 77th minute, took advantage of a free ball inside the area after a corner kick to tie the game.
The locals enjoyed the tie after playing the second half with ten men and preferred to manage their advantage until the end.
fluminense
22
inter porto Alegre
Fluminense: Fábio; Samuel Xavier, Nino, Felipe Melo (d.46, Marlon), Marcelo; André, Paulo Henrique Ganso (d.46, Alexsander), Jhon Arias; Keno (m.88, Lima), Germán Ezequiel Cano and John Kennedy (m.46, Guga).
Coach: Fernando Diniz.
International: Sergio Rochet; Hugo Mallo, Vitão (m.85, Igor Gomes), Gabriel Mercado, Rene; Rómulo (d.46, Johnny), Charles Aránguiz (d.65, Bruno Henrique), Maurício (d.83, Dalbert), Wanderson; Alan Patrick (m.83, Lucca) and Enner Valencia.
Coach: Eduardo Coudet.
Goals: 1-0, m.9: Germán Cano. 1-1, m.45+5: Hugo Mallo. 1-2, m.63: Alan Patrick. 2-2, m.77: German Cano.
Referee: Argentine Darío Herrera sends off Samuel Xavier for a double warning (m.44) and shows yellow cards to Johnny, Lucca and Alexsander.
Incidents: first leg of the Copa Libertadores semi-finals played at the Maracaná stadium in Rio de Janeiro in front of 67,515 spectators
see the match sheet
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
