Fluminense saw off Vasco da Gama 1:0 at Maracana Stadium on Saturday evening in the Brazilian Serie A regular season. The visitors had been on a good run, winning their last three games, but they found no answer to a decisive moment in the second half. Luciano Acosta broke the deadlock in the 61st minute, and that proved to be the difference between four points.
By then the match had already been physical. Andrés Gómez had seen yellow in the ninth minute, and two more bookings came in the 21st. The tension rose before half-time with three more yellows in stoppage time, and Vasco came from the dead to push harder after the interval. And here's the thing about these old Rio derbies — the intensity often tells you more than the scoreboard.
Fluminense controlled the tempo for large spells, but Vasco enjoyed more possession overall at 55 per cent. They threw 36 crosses into the box and attempted 22 dribbles, yet their expected goals figure of 0.69 tells a different story. To be fair, Fluminense created more meaningful chances with four big opportunities against their opponents' one.
Acosta's goal came from sustained pressure. The hosts registered six shots inside the penalty area and hit the target four times in total. Their expected goals of 1.68 suggests they should have scored more, but the result was enough to extend their unbeaten streak. Vasco's goalkeeper made three saves, while Fluminense's keeper had to produce four.
Both managers made six changes during the match, with Vasco bringing on Tchê Tchê and Carlos Cuesta in the 74th minute. The visitors will still harbour hopes of moving up the table, though they sit 17th with 25 points from 25 games. Fluminense remain fourth with 45 points, and the gap to the top four is narrowing.