Fluminense Advance To Final At Boca's Expense. Fluminense advanced to the grand final of the 2008 Copa Libertadores after defeating defending champions Boca Juniors 3-1 in a thrilling encounter at a packed Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
The match began with a frantic pace, as Fluminense pushed forward in numbers, to the appreciation of the 100,000 home fans that packed the Maracana stadium.
Fluminense, who are currently bottom of the Brazilian First Division standings, could have gone ahead early on, when veteran striker Washington blasted the ball over the Boca cross-bar from close range.
After the initial fifteen minutes, that were mainly dominated by Flu, Boca began to come more into the match, and they wasted an incredible opportunity to go ahead, when Martin Palermo shot wide from inside of the area.
Minutes later Palermo met a cross with a powerful header, but Fluminense goalkeeper Fernando Henrique made a good save.
In the 27th minute Flu were awarded an inviting free-kick, but Thiago Neves fired the ball over the cross-bar, to the disappointment of his teammates.
Not long after Juan Roman Riquelme had his opportunity to impress, but the gifted playmaker lifted his free-kick over the bar as well.
Five minutes before half-time Palermo almost broke the dead-lock, but he saw his powerful header well saved by an alert Henrique.
Boca played slightly the better football in the first period, but went into the break knowing that they needed to score a goal in the second half to avoid elimination.
After the break Boca pushed forward, and a long-range Rodrigo Palacio effort was pushed out for a corner-kick by Henrique, as violence between the Boca supporters and the local police began in the terraces.
However, play resumed, and Flu moved forward in numbers, and a powerful Cicero drive was inches away from putting the Brazilians in the lead.
In the 55th minute Flu piled heavy pressure on the Boca goal, but it came to nothing, as the Argentines moved forward.
Boca looked extremely dangerous, and from the run of play they went ahead when Palermo met a precise cross with a powerful header at the back post. It was Palermo's seventh goal of the tournament.
Minutes later Washington hit back for Fluminense when he curled in a magnificent free-kick that took Pablo Migliore by surprise.
In the 71st minute Flu won the ball in the midfield and broke on the counterattack with Dario Conca, who saw his harmless cross deflect past Migliore and into the back of the net.
But Boca didn't let this affect them, and they created several clear opportunities to get level, and would have done so if it wasn't for the heroics of Henrique, and for the woodwork. Minutes later a Pablo Ledesma effort flashed wide of the right post.
Fluminense could have sealed their birth in the final of the Copa Libertadores in the 82nd minute, but they wasted the opportunity.
In injury time Junior charged into the box from the left wing, but although he beat Migliore his delicate effort came off the left post. But Fluminense kept at it.
Seconds later Dodo sealed Boca's fate when he got the better of two Boca defenders and then beat Migliore with an easy finish.
Fluminense recorded a memorable 3-1 victory over Boca, and advanced to the final of the 2008 Copa Libertadores where they will meet Liga de Quito of Ecuador in the final.
Tags: fluminense rio de janeiro boca juniors maracana semifinal copa libertadores america 2008 dodo martin palermo Taça
![Flamengo 4x3 Fluminense [Taça Guanabara 2004]](http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/_yD-FdmxrpU/default.jpg)
