Fluminense secured a 1-0 win over Once Caldas on Tuesday night (April 1st) in their Conmebol Sudamericana opener. Playing at Estadio Palogrande in Manizales, Colombia, Germán Cano’s header sealed the victory. The team, led by coach Marcão, will face Red Bull Bragantino on Sunday (April 6th) at 4 PM at Maracanã in the second round of the Brazilian Championship. This match marked the first round of the Conmebol Sudamericana – Group Stage, kicking off at 9:30 PM in Estadio Palogrande.

Key Moments in the First Half

Fluminense started cautiously, creating few chances in the first 20 minutes. At the 7-minute mark, Arias took a corner, and the ball fell to Cano in the box, but he was dispossessed before shooting. The duo connected again in the 27th minute, but the defense cleared the ball before Cano could finish.

The breakthrough came in the 30th minute. Arias sent a precise cross into the box, and Cano rose to head it into the net. Fluminense kept attacking and nearly doubled the lead in the 34th minute when Renê crossed to Cano, whose header forced a save.

De Jhon Arias pra German Cano.
Nosso primeiro gol na @sudamericanabr não tinha como ser diferente! 🇭🇺 pic.twitter.com/cGjHkLXNe6

— Fluminense F.C. (@FluminenseFC) April 2, 2025

Second-Half Action and Near-Misses

Fluminense kept control, passing sharply to find space. In the 27th minute, Arias dribbled past a defender, entered the box, and attempted a chip shot but went wide.

The team kept pressing. In the 40th minute, Serna found Lezcano in the box, and his header struck the post. During stoppage time, Everaldo carried the ball to the edge of the box and passed to Serna, but his shot was blocked.

What’s Next

Fluminense opened their Conmebol Sudamericana campaign with a crucial win in Group F. Germán Cano’s decisive goal secured a strong start, while the team’s solid performance set a positive tone for the tournament. Next, they will host GV San Jose from Bolivia at Maracanã on Thursday (April 10th) for the second game of the tournament.