Athletico-PR salvage late draw against Fluminense
A last-gasp penalty secured a 3-3 draw for Athletico-PR against Fluminense in a thrilling Serie A encounter on Sunday.
In an action-packed 25th round match of the Brasileirão Série A, Athletico-PR and Fluminense shared the spoils in a 3-3 draw. The match, held at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, was defined by defensive lapses and a dramatic finish in stoppage time.
The hosts opened the scoring through Leozinho in the 34th minute, but Hulk quickly equalized with a free-kick. Athletico-PR regained the lead early in the second half via Benavídez, only for Fluminense to equalize following a mistake by goalkeeper Santos and later take the lead through an Ignácio header.
With time running out, a collision between Fluminense keeper Fábio and Viveros resulted in a penalty in the 4th minute of stoppage time (49th minute). Viveros stepped up to convert his 17th goal of the season, leveling the score and securing a vital point for his side.
The draw keeps the top-four race in the Brasileirão Série A largely unchanged, with Athletico-PR maintaining a three-point lead over Fluminense. Both teams remain locked in a tight battle as the season progresses.