Fluminense edge América de Cali 2-1 away in Copa Sudamericana Round of 16 first leg

Early punch puts Fluminense in charge, late twist keeps tie alive

Two goals inside the first 15 minutes gave Fluminense the start every visiting team wants in knockout football. They beat América de Cali 2-1 in Santiago de Cali on August 12, 2025, taking a slim advantage back to Brazil after a tense first leg in the Round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana.

The opener came in the 7th minute, and it hurt the hosts twice. A driven Fluminense attack forced a defensive error that ended with Yerson Candelo steering the ball into his own net. The visitors didn’t sit on it. They stayed on the front foot and struck again in the 15th minute when Agustín Canobbio finished a crisp move to make it 2-0, quieting the home crowd and putting América under real pressure.

From there, the match settled into a fight over rhythm. América tried to reset and push their full-backs higher. Fluminense, confident and compact, managed the moments, slowed things down when needed, and looked sharp in transition. Both sides carved out chances but couldn’t add to the score before halftime.

América’s best sights of goal came through Rodrigo Holgado, who forced a save with a firm effort, and Yojan Garcés, whose close-range header was blocked in a packed box. Fluminense answered with their own threats. Facundo Bernal tested the goalkeeper with a drilled shot that was turned away, a reminder that the Brazilians were dangerous whenever they broke lines.

As the second half wore on, América leaned into territory and pressure, while Fluminense banked their lead and kept the middle of the pitch tight. The atmosphere grew edgy. Cristian Barrios, driving the team forward, went into the book in the 84th minute. Fluminense’s Thiago Santos saw yellow in stoppage time (90+1) as the game frayed around the edges.

América’s bench tried to change the flow. D. Bocanegra replaced J. Lucumí in the 81st minute, adding fresh legs and height. A minute later, Y. Garcés came on for Y. Candelo to push more bodies into the area and attack the back post. The tweaks finally paid off in time added on.

In the 90+3rd minute, Barrios got the goal América had chased all night. He finished a move started by Mateo Castillo, who found a pocket and slipped the ball into space. The strike didn’t level the match, but it shifted the feeling of the tie. A 2-0 felt like a mountain; 2-1 feels climbable.

Here’s how the key moments stacked up:

• 7' — Yerson Candelo own goal puts Fluminense 1-0 up.
• 15' — Agustín Canobbio doubles the lead with a precise finish.
• Second half — Rodrigo Holgado forces a save; Facundo Bernal denied at the other end; Yojan Garcés sees a header blocked.
• 81' — América sub: D. Bocanegra for J. Lucumí.
• 82' — América sub: Y. Garcés for Y. Candelo.
• 84' — Cristian Barrios booked.
• 90+1' — Thiago Santos booked.
• 90+3' — Cristian Barrios scores, assisted by Mateo Castillo, for 2-1.

Beyond the scoreboard, the match turned on control and composure. Fluminense handled the early chaos with clarity, used width to stretch América when they could, and didn’t panic when the game tilted late. América, to their credit, never gave in. They kept asking questions, especially after the hour mark, and turned pressure into a lifeline in stoppage time.

The competition rules matter here. The away-goals rule no longer applies in CONMEBOL tournaments. That means Fluminense’s 2-1 win doesn’t carry extra weight for scoring twice in Colombia. The equation is simple heading into the return leg in Brazil: if Fluminense avoid defeat, they go through; if América win by one, the tie goes to penalties; a two-goal win for the Colombians would flip the bracket.

Fluminense will like their position. They showed the kind of maturity you need away from home in knockout ties—fast start, smart game management, and enough bite on the counter to keep the opponent honest. Canobbio’s sharp finish underlined their edge in execution. Bernal’s industry between the lines helped them breathe under pressure.

América take encouragement too. Barrios’ late goal changes the psychology of the week. Castillo’s assist and the energy from the bench point to a plan: carry the late surge into the return game, be braver with the first pass through midfield, and get more numbers into the box earlier. Holgado’s movement gave them a reference; the final ball needs to match it in Brazil.

There was also the human side of it. Candelo suffered the kind of moment that can linger, but América’s response—immediately feeding him the ball again, pushing forward, and eventually finding the net—showed a group that won’t let one mistake define their tie.

For the second leg, watch two battlegrounds. First, set pieces. América loaded the area late and began to win first contacts; that could be a lever in Brazil. Second, transition defense. When Fluminense break cleanly, they move the ball quickly into the channels; América will need their first press to be tighter to avoid chasing back toward their own goal.

It’s a narrow lead, not a knockout. Fluminense leave Cali with the result they wanted. América leave with belief. The verdict waits in Brazil.

By the numbers and what comes next

Scoreline pressure shaped the shot map. América generated more efforts after halftime, but Fluminense’s early efficiency decided the night. The bookings tell a story too: the edge arrived late as América ramped up risk and Fluminense protected the score.

What each side needs now is clear:

• Fluminense: manage the first 20 minutes at home, use the crowd to force América into rushed passes, and lean on quick outlets to kill counters.
• América de Cali: start higher up the pitch, commit an extra runner beyond Holgado, and keep Barrios near the half-spaces where he found joy late on.

With nothing settled and no away-goals cushion, the return leg carries real jeopardy. One moment can flip the tie. That’s exactly how América kept this one alive in stoppage time—and why Fluminense, despite the advantage, can’t relax yet.