Fluminense got off to a great start in their quest for Copa Libertadores success this year with a 1-0 victory away to Caracas in Venezuela.
Fluminense rode their luck at times but managed to score the only goal of the game when a shot from Rafael Sobis was blocked by a Caracas defender, only to fall into the path of Fred, who curled the ball past the keeper from the edge of the area.
Fred has started the season in the same deadly form he showed last season and was delighted to start the Libertadores campaign with a victory but insists they now need to switch their focus back to the Carioca championship.
“First we have shown that victory is our goal. We knew the difficulties we would face for not knowing both Caracas and how we would play, but the team learned to behave well,” he told Globo Esporte.
“We had a good game, but now we have to think off the Libertadores and about the Carioca. We had a ten hour trip to Caracas and we go back the same way.
“We are now in a phase with complicated travel and always decisive games, but we have to rest as much as possible to achieve our two goals. Both are very important. The challenge now is the Volta Redonda.”
Fluminense, who have won three and drawn three of their first six games in the Carioca, will play away to Volta Redonda this Sunday.
Source: Globo Esporte
