Analysis The numbers behind the result
Fluminense's late rally masks xG dominance over Internacional
Fluminense edged a 2-1 victory that their overwhelming control of the ball (76% possession) and chance creation (1.57 xG vs 1.1) justified, though Internacional briefly threatened to steal it. Alan Patrick's first-half opener for the visitors (46') came against the run of play — Fluminense had already registered 6 first-half shots (3 on target) to Internacional's 4 (1 on target) despite 81% possession. The hosts' eventual breakthrough (Hércules, 78') and stoppage-time winner (Luciano Acosta, 90+7') rewarded sustained pressure (16 total shots, 6 on target vs Internacional's 13 and 5 respectively).
The decisive factor was Fluminense's superior shot quality once they adjusted to Internacional's low-block (47% of their shots came inside the box vs 46% for Internacional). Substitutes proved pivotal — Hulk and Acosta entered at 58' and 73' respectively, with the latter scoring the winner from one of Fluminense's 8 corners (vs Internacional's 5). Internacional's compact 3-4-2-1 restricted space (21 fouls conceded) but couldn't sustain their early clinical edge — they scored with their only shot on target in the first half.