Acosta’s 61st-minute goal lifts Fluminense to a 1-0 win

Fluminense defeated Vasco DA Gama 1-0 in Serie A’s Regular Season - 26 on Sunday, September 6, 2026, with Luciano Acosta scoring the only goal. The result gave Fluminense the win at the end of a closely contested match in which Vasco had more possession and attempts but could not convert that territorial advantage.

Acosta decides the match

The decisive moment arrived in the 61st minute. Acosta finished a normal goal after receiving an assist from Yeferson Soteldo, giving Fluminense the lead shortly after both teams had made changes. Acosta had entered in the 58th minute for Paulo Henrique Chagas de Lima and made an immediate impact. His performance earned an 8.2 rating, the highest of the match, alongside one shot on target and one key pass in 32 minutes.

Soteldo was also influential before being replaced in the 74th minute by Kevin Serna. He finished with the assist, one key pass and one tackle, and received a yellow card in the 45th minute. Fluminense’s other bookings went to Juan Pablo Freytes in the 21st minute, Ignácio da Silva Oliveira in the 45th and Hulk in the 45th. Vasco collected four yellow cards as well, including Andrés Gómez in the ninth minute, Daniel Fuzato in the 21st, Paulo Henrique in the 40th and Facundo Colidio in the 54th. Neither side received a red card.

Vasco had more of the ball

The statistics showed a match that was more balanced than the scoreline suggested. Vasco controlled 55% possession and completed 441 accurate passes compared with Fluminense’s 355, while also attempting 13 shots to Fluminense’s seven. However, Fluminense were more efficient in dangerous areas, recording six shots inside the box to Vasco’s five and four shots on goal to Vasco’s three. Vasco produced seven shots from outside the box and had seven efforts off target, illustrating the gap between volume and effectiveness.

Both teams won six corners. Fluminense committed 11 fouls to Vasco’s 20, and the sides finished level on four yellow cards each. Marcão’s Fluminense lined up in a 4-2-3-1, while Pedro Emanuel set Vasco up in a 4-3-3. The hosts held their advantage after Acosta’s goal despite Vasco’s greater share of possession.

Impact on the table

Fluminense began the round fifth with 42 points from 25 matches, and the victory takes them to 45 points from 26 games. Their record becomes 12 wins, nine draws and five defeats. Vasco, who entered 17th with 25 points from 24 matches, remain on 25 points after adding another loss, with six wins, seven draws and 12 defeats from 25 games. The result therefore strengthens Fluminense’s position in the upper part of the table while leaving Vasco’s fight near the bottom unchanged.