Fluminense's John Kennedy became the protagonist of a dramatic tale, scoring a crucial goal to take his team 2-1 up over Boca Juniors. Kennedy, latching onto an assist from the ever-influential Keno, unleashed a powerful strike from just inside the edge of the penalty area. The ball rocketed past the goalkeeper Sergio Romero, a moment of sheer brilliance that put Fluminense in the driving seat as the match edged toward its conclusion.

However, the thrill of the goal was short-lived for Kennedy, as he received his marching orders in the 100th minute for excessive celebration. It was a bitter twist in Kennedy's night; while he had scored the potential winning goal, his second yellow card saw him receive his first red card in his tenth appearance in the CONMEBOL Libertadores. This incident added to the final's intensity and put Fluminense in a precarious position as they now had to fend off Boca Juniors with ten men.

The referee, Wilmar Alexander Roldán Pérez, has become notorious for his stringent officiating, having given out seven red cards in just eleven games of the 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores - more than any other referee in the tournament. This match was no exception to Roldán Pérez's record, and Kennedy's dismissal meant that Fluminense had now seen three of their players sent off in the competition, the first instance since their match against Internacional on September 28, 2023.

Despite being down a man, Fluminense had reasons to celebrate. Kennedy's strike was his fourth goal of the 2024 tournament, marking a remarkable contribution to Fluminense's goal tally by substitutes - only River Plate had more goals from substitutes. Furthermore, Kennedy has been instrumental in his team's success, contributing to goals in his last four CONMEBOL Libertadores games (three goals, one assist). Keno, too, had a night to remember; his assist for Kennedy's goal was his fifth in the tournament, a tally no other player had reached. His consistent performance against Boca Juniors, now with two assists in three appearances, underscored his value and impact for Fluminense. The combination of Keno's vision and Kennedy's execution wrote a thrilling chapter in Fluminense's storied run in the competition, even as they braced for a tense final few minutes with a reduced squad.