Fluminense Out of 2025 Copa Sul-Americana After 1-1 Draw with Lanús

First leg: Lanús snatch a late win in Argentina

On September 16, the quarter‑final opened at La Fortaleza Stadium where Lanús needed a solid result to keep their hopes alive. Brazilian side Fluminense pressed early but could not break through the Argentine defence. The deadlock was broken in the 89th minute when Marcelino Moreno slipped the ball past the keeper, sending 35,000 fans into a frenzy. That single goal gave Lanús a 1–0 lead heading into the second leg.

Despite the loss, Fluminense left the match with a respectable defensive record and a few chances that fell short. Coach Marcelo Oliveira praised his squad’s work rate but warned the team must improve finishing if they wanted to overturn the deficit in Rio.

Second leg: Maracanã drama ends in a tie

The return fixture on Tuesday night turned the Maracanã into a cauldron of noise and expectation. Fluzão needed a goal and a handful of points to progress. Early pressure paid off when forward Fred scored in the 22nd minute, leveling the aggregate score at 1‑1.

Lanús, however, stayed compact and looked dangerous on the break. Their equaliser came in the 67th minute via a well‑timed header from defender Facundo Bertoglio, restoring the one‑goal advantage from the first leg. Fluminense pushed for another goal, creating several chances, but Lanús goalkeeper Matías Maidana made a series of crucial saves.

When the final whistle blew, the match finished 1‑1, and the aggregate ended 2‑1 in Lanús’s favour. The Argentine club’s resilience, especially after missing five players to injury in the first match, earned them a place in the semifinals of the Copa Sul-Americana.

• Key players for Lanús: Marcelino Moreno (winner in first leg), Facundo Bertoglio (second‑leg header).
• Fluminense’s top performers: Fred (first‑leg goal), Renato Augusto (midfield creator).
• Next opponent for Lanús: winner of Universidad de Chile vs. Alianza Lima.

Lanús will now focus on preparing for a tough semifinal clash, while Fluminense heads back to domestic duties, contemplating what went wrong and how to bounce back next season.