The ceremonial mix‑up that set the tone
On Tuesday night, the Maracanã buzzed with the usual pre‑match fanfare as Lanús representatives approached Fluminense to present a commemorative plaque. Instead of the iconic tricolor emblem, the trophy displayed the badge of a Série D side—an oversight that left the Brazilian club’s staff blinking in disbelief. Social media exploded with screenshots, and several players could be heard chuckling nervously while officials scrambled for a replacement.
Lanús’ club secretary later explained that a shipping error at the vendor’s warehouse caused the wrong design to be printed. The mistake was corrected minutes later, but the incident lingered in the stadium’s atmosphere, adding an odd footnote to what was supposed to be a routine ceremony.
The match: tactics, drama and the draw that sent Lanús through
When the whistle blew at 9:30 PM local time, the two teams displayed starkly different approaches. Renato Gaúcho’s Fluminense lined up in a 4‑3‑3, hoping to exploit the individual quality of players like Fred and Rafael Costa. In contrast, Lanús stuck to a disciplined 4‑2‑3‑1, emphasizing compact defending and quick transitions.
Early on, Fluminense pressed high, creating a handful of chances, but Lanús goalkeeper Franco Razzotti kept the game level with two crucial saves. By the 30th minute, Lanús had settled into their rhythm, with forward Diego Gómez slicing through the middle to force a defensive error that yielded a dangerous free‑kick.
The first half ended 0‑0, and the tension grew as both sides recognized that a single goal could decide the tie. In the second half, Fluminense’s midfield struggled to retain possession against Lanús’ double pivot, which constantly intercepted passes and launched counter‑attacks.
At the 72nd minute, a pivotal moment arrived when Fluminense defender Matheus Ferreira misplaced a clearance, sending the ball rolling into his own net. The own‑goal gave Lanús a 1‑0 lead, and for a brief spell it looked like the Argentine side might seal the upset.
However, Fluminense’s resilience shone through. A quick corner in the 78th minute was headed back into the box, and forward Fred equalised with a powerful header. The stadium erupted, and the match seemed destined for extra time.
With ten minutes left, both coaches made tactical tweaks. Lanús introduced a fresh winger, Cristian Mendoza, to stretch the Brazilian defence, while Gaúcho brought on a second striker, hoping to capitalize on Fluminense’s aerial threat.
In the 86th minute, a lapse in concentration from Fluminense’s right‑back allowed Lanús’ midfielder Lucas Pérez to slip a low pass to Gómez, who forced a corner. The corner was poorly cleared, and the ball fell to Lanús’ defender Nahuel Ramos, who tapped it into the net for a 2‑1 advantage.
Fluminense threw everything forward in the final minutes, but Lanús held firm. The match finished 2‑1, but because the tie was decided on aggregate with a prior 0‑0 draw in Brazil, the result effectively meant Lanús progressed to the semifinals on a narrow margin.
Key moments of the night:
- Pre‑match plaque displays the wrong badge – a Série D emblem instead of Fluminense’s tricolor.
- Own‑goal by Matheus Ferreira gives Lanús the initial lead.
- Fred’s equaliser from a corner restores balance.
- Late winning goal from Nahuel Ramos after a defensive error.
- Lanús secures a historic semifinal spot, their first in the tournament’s modern era.
The victory sparked celebrations among Lanús supporters, many of whom had travelled to Rio for the first time in years. For Fluminense, the defeat was a painful reminder that individual talent alone cannot overcome a well‑drilled collective unit. The plaque incident, while embarrassing, has already faded into the background of what will be remembered as a classic South American knockout night.
Ghanshyam Kushwaha
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