Acosta's 90th-minute winner turns Internacional's lead into defeat

Fluminense came back to beat Internacional 2-1 at the Maracanã, with Luciano Acosta's late goal settling a match Internacional had led since early in the second half.

Luciano Acosta scored in the 90th minute to give Fluminense a 2-1 win over Internacional at the Maracanã, after Internacional had led since the 46th minute. Alan Patrick put the visitors ahead one minute after the restart, with Matheus Bahia providing the assist. Hércules levelled in the 78th minute, but it was Acosta's strike, right at the end, that decided the game.

Fluminense had 76% of the ball, a long way above the 57.4% they average at home, so the first thing to notice is how much of the game they kept it. Internacional had 24%, well short of the 37.8% they usually manage away. Put simply, Fluminense were on the ball far more than usual, and Internacional far less than usual.

Possession only means something if it produces chances, and Fluminense's did. They had 16 shots, nine of them from inside the box, and an expected goals figure of 1.57. Expected goals is a way of scoring how good each chance was, and their usual at home is 1.16, against a league average of 1.38 per side. That makes this a strong night in front of goal, not just a busy one with the ball.

Internacional did not create more than usual. They had 13 shots, close to the 12.2 they average away, and an expected goals figure of 1.1, which sits near their usual 1.07. Their goal came from a share of the ball they rarely see, and they also conceded two, against an away average of 1.3. Both goalkeepers were busy, with Fábio making four saves for Fluminense and Kauan making four for Internacional.

Acosta, who scored the winner, and Hércules, who equalised, were the two goalscorers on the Fluminense side, and both finished with the highest mark of the players on that team, 8.2. Those two goals changed the result, and they were the moments the match turned on. Alan Patrick's goal, the only one Internacional managed, was the one that left them chasing the rest of the way.

Fluminense have 14 wins from 32 matches this season, and they have won two of their last six at home. Internacional have won three of their last six away games, so the side that lost here arrived with some form on the road. It was a match where the numbers and the result pulled in opposite directions for most of the evening.

Fluminense sit fifth in the table on 51 points from 32 matches, while Internacional are 16th on 35 points from the same number of games.

Player of the matchL. Acosta1 goal8.2

Hércules1 goal8.2

Alan Patrick1 goal8.2

Fábio4 saves7.5