By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Fluminense’s season lurched into crisis mode after they lost 2-0 to Santos at the Maracanã last night. The result left them looking over their shoulder in the Campeonato Brasileiro, as they face up to the realization that relegation is a distinct possibility.
Santos were by far the better side and scored both goals before the game had even reached the half-hour mark, effectively killing the match as a contest. To make matters worse, Fred picked up a thigh strain and could be out for up to three weeks.
“I felt the strain when I took a shot. To be injured is always bad. It is a worry, especially with the team in this situation,” the Seleção striker said.
Santos took the lead on twelve minutes when Thiago Ribeiro converted Cicinho’s cross. Fluminense failed to offer any kind of response, their midfield apathetic in the face of fan fury.
Their woe was confounded on 28 minutes when a Cavalieri error allowed Cícero’s free-kick to double the visitors’ lead. Flu returned for the second half with playmakers Felipe and Wágner on the pitch, but their presence made little difference to the end product nor the final result.
Fluminense return to action next Wednesday night away to Libertadores champions, Atlético-MG. At present, the club sit two points outside the relegation zone but are in real danger of falling through the trapdoor.
Read more (in Portuguese).
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