Fluminense vs Santos FC: Match Details

The Brazilian Serie A (Brasileiro Betano) third round match between Fluminense vs Santos FC, held at the famous Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on April 13, 2025, provided football fans with exciting moments. The match was a chance for Fluminense to secure a home win, while Santos FC was looking for its first win. A dramatic goal in the last minute of the match gave Fluminense a 1-0 victory. Here, we have detailed every important event, strategy, player performance and overall impression of the match.

Match Background

Fluminense had mixed results in their first two matches in Serie A. Despite losing 2-0 to Fortaleza in the first match, the team gained confidence by winning 2-1 against Red Bull Bragantino in the second match. Coach Renato Gaucho had kept his team in high spirits after a 5-0 win over Bolivian GV San José in the recent Copa Sudamericana. Fluminense were in ninth place and were looking to move up the points table with a win.

Meanwhile, Santos FC were looking for their first win in Serie A. They were 16th with one point after a loss to Vasco da Gama in their opening match and a 2-2 draw with Bahia in their second. The pressure was mounting on coach Pedro Caixinha. Santos star Neymar had returned from injury to join the team, but his full fitness was in question. Looking at the history between the two teams, Fluminense had beaten Santos in their last two matches, including a 3-0 win in 2023.

Match kick-off: First half

The match kicked off at 10:30pm (UTC). Fluminense played in their traditional 4-2-3-1 formation, with German Cano leading the attack. In midfield, Jon Arias, Vinicius Lima and Agustin Canobio played a creative role. In defence, Thiago Silva’s experience and Samuel Javier’s pace were the team’s strengths. Santos also adopted an attacking 4-3-3 formation, with Ticinho Soares, Benjamin Rolheiser and Guilherme Augusto taking charge of the attack. Neymar was on the bench, which made the fans wait for his entry. In the first half, Santos maintained control of the ball, holding 69.6% of possession. Fluminense, on the other hand, focused on counterattacks. In the 10th minute of the match, Santos’ Diego Pituca fired a powerful shot from midfield, but Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio made a good save. Fluminense’s Jon Arias tried from outside the box in the 18th minute, but the ball went just wide of the goalpost.

In the 25th minute, Santos’ Ticinho Soares had a chance to score, but his header was blocked by Fluminense defender Rene. The game became tense, and in the 32nd minute, Fluminense’s Facundo Bernal received his first yellow card for a foul on Santos’ Thasiano. Towards the end of the first half, Santos attacked continuously, but Fluminense’s organized defense prevented any goals. The first half ended in a 0–0 draw.

Second Half: Tactical Changes and Tension

In the second half, Fluminense improved their tactics. Coach Renato Gaucho instructed the team to be more aggressive. Fluminense made the first real attack in the 50th minute, where German Cano tried to score, but Santos goalkeeper Gabriel Brazao made a great save. Santos made a change in the 55th minute, replacing Yeferson Soteldo with Gabriel Veron. This change added momentum to Santos’ attack.

In the 63rd minute, Santos’ Neymar entered the field, which brought excitement to the crowd. He made an immediate impact, dribbling and making a dangerous move in the 65th minute, but Fluminense’s Thiago Silva stopped him. Neymar’s presence added a new dimension to Santos’ attack, but his solo effort failed to create a goal-scoring opportunity.

Fluminense made a change in the 70th minute. Agustin Canobio was replaced by Ganso, who added creativity to the midfield. In the 75th minute, Santos’ David Washington replaced Ticinho Soares. This change refreshed Santos’ attack, but Fluminense’s defense remained steadfast.

The decisive moment of the game: the last-minute goal

The last 10 minutes of the game were very exciting. Both teams showed aggressive play for the goal. In the 85th minute, Santos’ Gabriel Veron had a chance inside the box, but his shot was saved by Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio. In the 88th minute, Neymar tried to score from a free kick, but the ball went over the crossbar.

In the 90th minute, Santos goalkeeper João Paulo received a yellow card for time-wasting. The game became even more exciting in injury time. In the 96th minute, Fluminense’s Jon Arias delivered a great cross from the right side of the box, which Samuel Javier converted with a header. The Maracana Stadium was buzzing with excitement. The goal gave Fluminense a 1-0 win.

Match Analysis

The match saw an exciting contest between Fluminense’s defense and Santos’ attack. Although Fluminense outplayed Santos in ball possession (30.4% vs. 69.6%), they made their counter-attacking strategy effective. Thiago Silva and Rene’s defense repeatedly stopped Santos’ attacks. Jon Arias provided a decisive assist in the final minutes of the game, highlighting his importance.

Santos did well in possession but failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Neymar’s entry Neymar’s arrival added energy to the team, but his fitness did not allow him to fully show his impact. Coach Pedro Caixinha’s strategy was aggressive, but the team’s finishing was lacking.

Player Performance

* Fluminense: Samuel Javier (goal), Jon Arias (assist), Thiago Silva (defense), and Fabio (goalkeeping) performed well. German Cano kept the pressure on the attack, although he could not score.

* Santos: Diego Pituca and Thasiano played well in midfield. Neymar’s second-half performance was impressive, but the score remained goalless. Gabriel Brazzaville made some good saves in goalkeeping.

Overall Impression

The win gave Fluminense the opportunity to move up the table, and boosted the team’s confidence. Coach Renato Gaucho praised the team’s organized defense and patience in the last minutes. For Santos, the defeat was disappointing. Coach Caixinha said the team’s finishing needs to improve.

The match showcased the magic of football at the Maracana Stadium. Fluminense fans celebrated a last-minute goal, while Santos will continue their quest for victory in the next match. The Brazilian Serie A season is getting more exciting, and such matches are attracting more fans.