Fluminense will host América de Cali on Tuesday night at the legendary Maracanã Stadium for the decisive second leg of the Copa Sudamericana Round of 16. After securing a 2-1 victory in Cali, the Brazilian side enters the match with a crucial advantage, while the Colombian visitors face an uphill battle to stay alive in the tournament.
What América de Cali Needs to Qualify
América, coached by Diego Raimondi, must score at least two goals without conceding to advance directly. A 1-0 win would not be enough, as the aggregate score (currently 2-1 for Fluminense) favors the Brazilian club. On the other hand, even a draw is enough for Renato Portaluppi’s Fluminense to reach the quarterfinals.
América de Cali’s Struggles in Brazil
History does not favor the Colombians. América has not won a Conmebol match in Brazil since 1993, when they defeated Flamengo in the Libertadores group stage. Overall, América has only two victories on Brazilian soil (against Flamengo and Santos), along with six draws and thirteen defeats. Their most recent trip ended in a 1-1 draw against Corinthians earlier in this Sudamericana campaign.
Fluminense Riding High
Fluminense arrives in great form. On August 16, the team defeated Fortaleza 2-1 at the Maracanã, with goals from Germán Cano and Agustín Canobbio. That match also made history for veteran goalkeeper Fábio, who equaled English legend Peter Shilton’s world record of 1,390 official appearances.
If Fábio plays against América, he will become the all-time record holder with 1,391 matches, surpassing Shilton, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rogério Ceni, and František Plánička. Given that he has started Fluminense’s last 18 competitive matches, all signs point to him being in the lineup once again.
Fluminense vs América de Cali Live Streaming
Fans around the world will be able to follow the action live from Rio de Janeiro. The match promises high intensity: Fluminense looking to confirm their quarterfinal spot at home, while América de Cali fights to overturn the deficit and break their long drought in Brazil.
