The Tricolor went into the game knowing that victory against the Argentine side would give them the advantage of staging their second leg last-16 encounter in Rio de Janeiro.
Fluminense went straight on the attack against Arsenal, and could have taken an early lead as Wellington Nem’s cut-back pass was sent inches over the crossbar by Thiago Neves.
However it wasn’t until the 36th minute that the Rio de Janeiro side managed to open the scoring. Carlinhos picked the ball up on the left flank and exchanged passes with Ráfael Sóbis before coolly slotting his shot under the legs of Cristian Campestrini.
After the half-time break, the game was a lot more balanced with Arsenal managing to look more threatening in the final third of the pitch following a few substitutions. Their willingness to have ago at Fluminense’s back four managed to pay off in the 81st minute when Adrian Gonzalez sent in a floating free-kick which Nicolas Aguirre managed to stick away after he had challenged Diego Cavalieri in the air.
But just minutes before the end of normal time, Thiago Neves was played through on goal and was taken down by Campestrini in the box. The referee had no choice but to show the keeper a red card and to award Fluminense a penalty. With Arsenal having already made all three of their substitutions, Diego Torres put on the gloves and managed to deny Thiago Neves’ spot-kick.
However, in the third minute of stoppage time, a stunning Manuel Lanzini cross was turned home at the near post by the head of Rafael Moura much to the delight of the handful of travelling Fluminense fans.
ARSENAL-ARG: Cristian Campestrini; Adrián González, Danilo Gerlo, Víctor Cuesta, Cristian Trombetta; Diego Torres, Gonzalo Espinoza, Jorge Ortíz (Esmeraldo) Claudio Mosca (Blanco); Juan Pablo Caffa (Aguirre), Jorge Córdoba.
FLUMINENSE: Diego Cavalieri; Bruno, Leandro Euzébio (Gum), Anderson, Carlinhos; Edinho (Lanzini), Diguinho, Deco, Thiago Neves; Wellington Nem (Rafael Sóbis), Rafael Moura.
