The ‘Granate’ survives in Rio and moves on to the semifinals

Lanús delivered a statement performance in Brazil. With a 1-1 draw at the legendary Maracanã, the Argentine side eliminated Fluminense and secured a spot in the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana. The hero of the night was substitute Dylan Aquino, whose strike shut down the Cariocas’ comeback hopes.

The tie was finely balanced after a 1-0 win for Lanús in the first leg, but the return match ramped up the drama. Renato Gaúcho’s men came out flying in the first half, pressing high, creating width, and generating a wave of chances that kept Mauricio Pellegrino’s squad on edge.

Uruguayan forward Agustín Canobbio scored a spectacular bicycle kick in the 20th minute, following a cross from Kevin Serna and a clever header assist from Acosta. That goal ignited hopes of a comeback for the home side, who also struck the post twice. Despite their dominance, Fluminense lacked the finishing touch to extend their lead.

Aquino silences the Maracanã

After a halftime break extended due to clashes among visiting supporters, the second half resumed with Fluminense piling forward. Veteran striker Germán Cano came off the bench to add firepower, but goalkeeper Lucas Losada denied attempts from Martinelli and a tame header by Thiago Silva.

Just when the Brazilians seemed to be in complete control, a counterattack flipped the script. A quick one-two with Marcelino Moreno put Dylan Aquino through on goal, and he made no mistake. His finish not only leveled the score on the night but sealed the 2-0 aggregate advantage that stunned the Maracanã.

In the closing minutes, Lanús nearly put the tie beyond doubt with a powerful strike from Marcich, brilliantly saved by veteran keeper Fábio. At the other end, Cano had the final chance of the game, but his header bounced off the post, confirming the Brazilians’ exit.

With this result, Lanús returns to the Copa Sudamericana semifinals for the first time in years and now awaits the winner between Alianza Lima and Universidad de Chile. Meanwhile, Fluminense bows out with frustration after dominating large stretches of the tie but lacking the killer instinct to convert their superiority into goals.