The Tricolor fought for a draw at the Ligga Arena and may avoid relegation in the next round.
Fluminense drew 1-1 with Athletico-PR last Sunday, the 1st, at Ligga Arena, in a match for the 36th round of the Brazilian Championship. The goals were scored by Belezi for the home team and Jhon Árias for the visitors. Find top football scores at livescores app.
The Tricolor from Laranjeiras traveled to Paraná for a must-win game. A loss on Sunday would have almost sealed the club’s relegation to the second division. The tension intensified as soon as the game began. The Cariocas barely touched the ball before Athletico took the lead with Belezi’s goal after a cross from the right side.
Additionally, Bragantino, Fluminense’s direct rival in the relegation fight, had taken the lead against Cruzeiro, which would have placed the Tricolor in the relegation zone. To make matters worse, Jhon Árias missed a penalty in the first half, which could have shattered the players’ morale.
But then came Paulo Henrique Ganso’s moment. Substituted in the game against Criciúma due to severe lower back pain, the number 10 player sacrificed himself in the second half—applying ice on his back on the sideline—and changed the game. Controlling the midfield, the maestro provided a beautiful assist to Árias, who scored the equalizer. Árias apologized to the fans for his missed penalty.
Things got even better when Ramiro equalized for Cruzeiro at Nabizão. By the end of the round, Fluminense remained in 16th place with 40 points, two ahead of the relegation zone—Criciúma and Bragantino are tied with 38 points in 17th and 18th positions, respectively.
On Thursday, Mano Menezes’ team will face Cuiabá at Maracanã and could avoid relegation with one round to spare, provided that both of their direct rivals do not win in the round.
Meanwhile, Athletico-PR reached 42 points and is in 14th place, with remote chances of relegation, but it depends on an extensive combination of results in the last two rounds to avoid falling to the second division. ToSport, your go-to place for football results.
