Key Points
— Fluminense beat Corinthians 3-1 at Maracanã in Brasileirão Round 9, with goals from John Kennedy, Hércules, and Rodrigo Castillo closing the gap on leader Palmeiras
— Corinthians have now gone eight consecutive matches without a victory — the longest current winless streak in the Série A — with Allan sent off for a VAR-flagged obscene gesture
— Jesse Lingard made his Corinthians debut off the bench but could not change the trajectory of a match that Fluminense controlled from the first minute
A Fluminense side playing with precision and ruthless counterattacking dismantled a Corinthians team visibly lacking ideas, confidence, and discipline at Maracanã on Wednesday night.
Fluminense defeated Corinthians 3-1 in Round 9 of the 2026 Brasileirão, extending their strong start to the season and climbing closer to league leaders Palmeiras. For Corinthians, the result was familiar and painful — an eighth consecutive match without a win, built on defensive errors, a lack of offensive creativity, and a red card that turned a difficult night into an embarrassing one.
Counterattacks Carved Corinthians Open
Luis Zubeldía’s Fluminense controlled the match from the opening whistle. The home side dominated possession — they lead the Brasileirão in that category at 59% — but the damage came on the break. The opener arrived in the 20th minute after Breno Bidon gave the ball away in midfield. Serna accelerated down the left, beat a flailing Gabriel Paulista, and set up John Kennedy in the box. The striker dribbled past goalkeeper Kauê and finished through Gustavo Henrique’s legs.
The second goal followed the same template just before halftime. Serna broke free again on the left, with only Matheus Bidu between him and goal. His shot struck the post, and Hércules arrived unmarked to convert the rebound. Two counterattacks, two goals, and a Corinthians defense fully exposed.
A Red Card and a Debut That Changed Nothing
Manager Dorival Júnior made changes at halftime, including introducing English midfielder Jesse Lingard for his Corinthians debut. But within minutes, the situation deteriorated further. Allan was caught by VAR making an obscene gesture toward Serna after a confrontation with Lucho Acosta, earning a straight red card that reduced Corinthians to ten men.
Even with more possession in the second half, Corinthians generated almost nothing. The current Copa do Brasil and Supercopa holders were incapable of stringing together coherent attacks, and Fluminense defended with the ease of a side that knew the result was settled.
Third Goal in Training Mode
Playing at a walking pace, Fluminense added a third in the 82nd minute. Soteldo crossed from the left, Rodrigo Castillo chested the ball to Hércules, who returned it for the Argentine to strike a clean finish past Kauê. The entire sequence unfolded inside the Corinthians box with no defensive pressure.
André pulled one back in the 88th minute after Fluminense’s defense failed to clear, but it was a consolation goal in every sense. Only in the final seconds did Corinthians show any urgency — far too late to matter.
Brasileirão Round 9 Results — Wednesday
| Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|
| Botafogo | 3 – 2 | Mirassol |
| Internacional | 1 – 1 | São Paulo |
| Cruzeiro | 3 – 0 | Vitória |
| Bahia | 3 – 0 | Athletico-PR |
| Coritiba | 1 – 1 | Vasco |
| Fluminense | 3 – 1 | Corinthians |
Thursday fixtures: Palmeiras vs Grêmio, Flamengo vs Bragantino, Santos vs Fortaleza, Chapecoense vs Atlético-MG, Remo vs Cuiabá
What’s Next
Corinthians return home Sunday to face Internacional at Neo Química Arena in Round 10 before their Copa Libertadores group-stage opener against Platense. With eight matches without a win, pressure on manager Dorival Júnior is mounting — and the fixtures do not get easier.
Fluminense visit Coritiba on Saturday before traveling to Venezuela to face Deportivo La Guaira in their own Libertadores debut. Zubeldía’s side now sits firmly in the title race — and the return of Germán Cano, who came off the bench after five months out with a knee injury, gives the squad depth at a critical moment of the season.