Fluminense has given Sporting Cristal a harsh reality check for the date of Group D of the 2023 Copa Libertadores. The Brazilian club came to Lima with all their stars looking for a win and they achieved it because – despite losing 1-0 – they won 3-1 in the second half. Players such as Marcelo, Felipe Melo and John Arias were among the Flu’s standouts, but without a doubt the Argentine was the night’s big figure German canoeAuthor of a double and a real “nightmare” for the rimense defense.
The merciless 35-year-old goalscorer led his team to victory: first with a partial draw after 35 minutes and then with an interim 2-1 draw after 59′. In addition, he was the protagonist of two controversial plays that could have ended in a penalty had VAR consulted referee Wilmar Roldán.
With his two goals at the National Stadium, the veteran attacker has 16 wins so far in 2023, a number that has seen him top scorer not only in his squad but worldwide this year, ahead of the likes of Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Manchester City Norwegian has scored 15 goals in the first three months of 2023, while ‘CR7’ and ‘Kiki’ have 13 goals each. Only Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford of England can equal Cano with 16 goals
Those were Germán Cano’s goals against Sporting Cristal
- Sporting Cristal 1-1 Fluminense | German canoe (35′)
- Sporting Cristal 1-2 Fluminense | German canoe (59′)
How do Cristal and Fluminense fare in the Group D table?
After the debut match between both clubs, Fluminense and Sporting Cristal are in completely opposite positions within their group. While the Brazilians lead by three points (along with The Strongest), the light blues are at the bottom with zero points (like River Plate).