BRAZILIAN
Fábio made a miraculous save and prevented Flu’s defeat at Maracanã
Published on November 26, 2024 at 9:26 pm
Criciúma and Fluminense were 0-0 at Maracanã Credit: Celso da Luz/ Criciúma EC press office
If it weren’t for experienced goalkeeper Fábio, Fluminense would be in an even more complicated situation in the Brazilian Championship. With a true ‘miracle’ in the final stage, the ‘wall’ of the Rio team prevented their team from being defeated at Maracanã, where they drew 0-0 with Criciúma, in the 35th round, this Tuesday.
The draw left Fluminense in 15th place, with 39 points and remained one ahead of Criciúma, the first team within the relegation zone, in 17th. On the other hand, the Cariocas maintained a taboo against their opponent from Santa Catarina.
Fluminense never lost to Criciúma playing in Rio de Janeiro. There are 13 games, with 10 Rio victories and three draws (the other two were 1-1, in the 2003 and 2004 Brazilian Championships) But the draw, this time, was not good in terms of relegation and did not please the majority of the over 41 thousand fans.
The first stage showed the teams’ objective in the match. Playing at home, Fluminense sought more attack, while Criciúma relied on counterattacks, without objectivity. I didn’t want to lose.
The Cariocas arrived with danger, especially with Keno, who stopped on the opponent’s marking, and Ganso, who sent the ball close to the post. However, Fluminense’s number 10 ended up getting injured, and the team lost in terms of creation. Thus, the game went to halftime without goals.
Back in the second half, Fluminense almost opened the scoring with Kauã Elias, in the first minute, but there was a tense moment shortly afterwards. At 17, Barreto took advantage of a defensive rebound and hit the crossbar. On the rebound, the ball went back to Barreto himself, who stopped in a miracle by Fábio, and then Vizeu hit the post, another scare for the fans.
The home team had the chance to open the scoring once again at 32, when Renato Augusto took a risk from outside, but sent it close to the post. The Rio team still tried to put pressure on, but without objectivity. In extra time, in the 49th minute, there was the last big chance, when Marquinhos headed a cross and the ball exploded onto the crossbar. After the lamentations, the fans waited for the final whistle to end the night with boos.
Criciúma returns to the field on Saturday, when at 7:30 pm they host Corinthians, at Heriberto Hülse. Next, they face Flamengo, on Wednesday (4th), again at home, and say goodbye to the season against Red Bull Bragantino, on December 8th, in Bragança Paulista (SP).
