The Ciudad de Lanús stadium erupted with joy when, in the 89th minute, Marcelino Moreno scored the only goal of the match to give El Granate a 1-0 victory over Fluminense in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals. With more than 35,000 fans celebrating in the stands, the Argentine side secured a narrow but valuable advantage ahead of the decisive match at the Maracanã.

A balanced duel with Argentine flavor

The match began with Lanús determined to set the tone. With Marcelino Moreno and Eduardo Salvio as the main creators on the left wing, the home team took the initiative for much of the first half. Chances like Sasha Marcich’s shot, which went just over the bar, or a slick connection between Marcich and Salvio, had the Granate fans buzzing.

Flu, however, did not sit back. As the minutes went by, the Brazilian side balanced the game and created two clear opportunities: first with a powerful strike from Hércules that flew just past Nahuel Losada’s right post, and later with René, who failed to capitalize on a golden chance inside the box.

Marcelino Moreno’s last-gasp goal

The second half turned into a constant back-and-forth. While Renato Gaúcho sought solutions from his bench to break the deadlock, Mauricio Pellegrino opted to maintain his team’s tactical discipline. Everything pointed to a goalless draw until one counterattack changed the story.

In the 89th minute, Agustín Cardozo led a fast break that ended with a pass to Dylan Aquino. The youngster delivered a precise cross into the heart of the box, where Marcelino Moreno appeared to finish with class and seal Lanús’ victory at the death.

Lanús heads to the Maracanã with its hopes alive

With this result, El Granate will travel to Rio de Janeiro with a slim but emotionally significant advantage as they aim to secure a place in the Copa Sudamericana semifinals. Next Tuesday, at the historic Maracanã, the final chapter of this series will unfold, promising emotions until the very last minute.

Marcelino Moreno’s goal not only made the difference in the first leg but also reignited the dreams of a team eager to reclaim its place on the international stage.