Atlético Nacional on a Long Flight Home.

By: Mauro | May 7th, 2008

Ok, so it didn’t end up being quite the bloodletting I expected or quite the one-sided affair I had thought either. Fluminense, however, continues to be the most effective team of the tournament. Atlético gets to wallow in their sorrows at least until the weekend when they have to get up to play their next match in the Colombian league.

Meanwhile, Fluminense defended the first leg result where they won 2-1 with two HUGE away goals and can now, after last night, look to the next round for their next match. Flu came out and filled the midfield with players, something that made Atlético Nacional’s production that much tougher.

The Brazilians came out solely to avoid getting scored on twice to maintain the score they worked so hard to get in Medellín last week. The Colombians attacked with everything they had and it only opened them up at the back for the final strike. Which came in the 52nd minutes from substitute defender Roger, who was making his 100th appearance with the club and only came on for injured Thiago Silva.

The goal seemed to be the knockout punch Fluminense needed to finish off the match. This was something Atlético Nacional was never able to overcome or recover from. Near the end, Léon Muñoz had a chance to bring his team level but that would have not have made the remaining two goals they needed to advance any easier to come by.

Fluminense has stretched their record of matches won at home in the Libertadores to 4 straight. Flu was only missing Thiago Silva and was even able to have Dodo back in their line up.

Atlético Nacional have earned their ninth loss at the hands of a Brazilian side in this competition. The Colombian side truly missed their finisher, Carlos Villagra (injured) and their keeper David Ospina (red carded in the first leg).

I had this one going 3-0. Fluminense did not play the match the way I had expected. Pedro Sarmiento’s boys played a great match, one they should have had one week earlier in Medellín.

Thiago Neves and Dario Conca were the difference makers in the end as I had pointed out they would be in my preview of this match. The Brazilian with his assist on the goal and the Argentine for breaking up countless plays in the midfield.

Fluminense have their spot in the next round reserved and wait to watch as Nacional and Sao Paulo fight for the right to face them in the quarter finals.

Ending thoughts on this match: The Colombians played a great match and have a great style of play but lacked the finishing touch and probably a little bit of luck. The Brazilians played a smart defensive-type match, a la Man. Utd. at the Camp Nou. The jury’s still out on how good these guys are, they could finally face a real test in the next round against a quality opponent.

Check the CONMEBOL website for results, stats and upcoming matches.