3-3 Draw Keeps Atletico Paranaense Three Points Ahead of Fluminense

Atletico Paranaense and Fluminense drew 3-3 at Arena da Baixada on Sunday, August 30, with both teams taking a point in an entertaining Serie A Regular Season - 25 match. The score was 1-1 at half-time before the teams traded four more goals after the interval.

Six goals and a late equaliser

Atletico Paranaense opened the scoring in the 35th minute when Leozinho finished a move assisted by S. Mendoza. Fluminense responded only three minutes later, with Hulk levelling the match. The visitors had 53% possession in the first half of the contest overall, but Atletico carried a greater threat in front of goal.

The hosts regained the lead in the 48th minute through G. Benavidez, who was booked one minute later. Fluminense again found an answer when A. Canobbio scored in the 65th minute, making it 2-2. Ignacio then completed Fluminense's comeback in the 78th minute, converting an assist from Hulk.

Atletico Paranaense avoided defeat in the closing stages. K. Viveros converted a penalty in the 90th minute to make it 3-3, although he was later shown a yellow card in the 80th minute. PH Ganso and Nonato were also booked for Fluminense, while Atletico's other caution went to G. Benavidez.

Atletico created more, Fluminense had more of the ball

The statistics portrayed a balanced match with contrasting strengths. Fluminense completed 53% of the possession and made 511 passes, compared with Atletico's 432, but Atletico registered more total shots, 17 to 12, and more shots on target, 8 to 6. The home side also produced eight corners to Fluminense's three and had 13 shots from inside the box.

Those numbers made the final scoreline notable: Atletico's expected-goals figure was 1.11, compared with Fluminense's 0.57, yet the visitors scored three times and held the lead before the late penalty. Fluminense goalkeeper Fábio made five saves, while Atletico's goalkeeper made three.

Table points shared

Atletico Paranaense entered the round third with 44 points from 24 matches, while Fluminense were fourth with 41. The draw adds one point to each total, taking Atletico to 45 points and Fluminense to 42 after 25 games, with the three-point gap maintained. It also added another draw to both teams' recent records after contrasting runs of wins, losses and draws in their listed pre-match form.

Leozinho was the standout performer according to the match ratings. He received an 8.7 rating, scored Atletico's first goal and supplied one key pass in 71 minutes. Hulk was Fluminense's leading-rated player at 8.3, contributing a goal and an assist in a full 90-minute performance.