On the night of this Tuesday, April 9, the current champion of the Copa Libertadores, Fernando Diniz’s Fluminense, faced a complicated date for the second date of the group stage of the continental competition against the complicated Colo-Colo of Jorge Almiron.
On the first date, Fluzão stumbled against Alianza Lima, drawing 1-1 in the Peruvian capital. For its part, the Chilean team did not waste its opportunity to add three on the initial date, beating Cerro Porteño 1-0, reaching this second date as the leaders of Group A.
🇭🇺✅ ¡Triunfo del vigente campeón! @FluminenseFC le ganó a @ColoColo en el Maracaná con goles de Marquinhos y Germán Cano por la Fecha 2 del Grupo A de la CONMEBOL #Libertadores 🏆#GloriaEterna pic.twitter.com/rS6oBLdtYW
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@Libertadores) April 10, 2024
In a match in which sparks constantly flew between Arturo Vidal and Marcelo, the reigning champion ended up scoring a key 2-1 victory with goals from Marquinhos and Germán Cano.
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Key victory at the Maracaná: Marquinhos led Fluminense with a goal and an assist
The champion would strike first in an exciting evening full of good football. After a filtered pass, receiving calmly and taking the ball to the big area with two touches, Marquinhos dared with an unstoppable cross shot, which slipped into Cortés’ goal, signing the temporary 1-0 in the 5th minute and unleashing the party at the Maracaná.
🔝🔥 ¡Qué zurdazo! El golazo de Marquinhos para el 1-0 de @FluminenseFC ante #ColoColo
🏆 Fecha 2 – Grupo A – CONMEBOL #Libertadores #GloriaEterna pic.twitter.com/lphdwBBg2B
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@Libertadores) April 10, 2024
Around the 19th minute, Colo-Colo would respond with a good goal, authored by Guillermo Paiva, who tied the game for El Cacique with a strong header after a masterful cross via corner.
Guillermo Paiva y el empate de Colo-Colo ante el Fluzão en el Maracaná 🏆🔥pic.twitter.com/wiqiNlGxG7
— Out of Context Libertadores (@OoCLibertadores) April 10, 2024
Despite the tie, Fluminense did not give up, having several opportunities to score. Colo-Colo, for its part, also left several offensive actions in danger. However, the scoreboard did not move further in the first half and Jesús Valenzuela, the referee of the match, blew the whistle to close the first half with the score at 1-1.
After a difficult start and the occasional opportunity from Colo-Colo, Fluminense struck again thanks to Marquinhos, who sent an almost perfect cross to Germán Cano, who unmarked himself and finished off the ball with his head, scoring the 2-1 in the 52nd minute. Despite a brief VAR review, the “14” goal ended up going up on the scoreboard.
🔥💪 ¡Acá está el goleador!
Germán Cano, máximo artillero de la CONMEBOL #Libertadores 2023, le dio el triunfo a @FluminenseFC ante #ColoColo#GloriaEterna pic.twitter.com/jgi8KFs2Si
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@Libertadores) April 10, 2024
A few seconds later, Cano would have a clear opportunity again after a high pass filtered by Marquinhos, but the Argentine shot far away and was ahead.
In the 75th minute, Cristián Zavala scored the tying goal for Colo-Colo. However, the VAR called Valenzuela to review the play due to possible contact with the hand. Finally, the decision was made to disallow the goal due to this previous handball.
In the 82nd minute, Colo-Colo was left with ten due to the expulsion of Erick Wiemberg, who received a second yellow card after a shirt pull.
The scoreboard did not move again and Fernando Diniz’s team ended up adding its first three points in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores 2024.
