Fábio, a 41-year-old veteran goalkeeper, was directly responsible for defending the penalties of Florentín and Atencio in the tie, which Fluminense won 5-4 after a 1-1 draw in regular time. This marks his 11th penalty save for the club, with five of them coming in Libertadores matches. He has previously saved penalties against Millonarios, Grêmio, and Independiente Rivadavia.
The impact of Fábio's performance went beyond the decisive penalty shootout. He had already saved the team in the first leg, at the Maracanã, with two impressive saves during the 90 minutes to secure a 0-0 draw at home. Fábio's experience and leadership played a significant role in the team's success, as he and defender Thiago Silva actively participated in the debate with coach Marcão to prepare the strategy for the return match against Independiente Rivadavia.
Fábio has been a key player for Fluminense, having played 306 games for the club and helping them win several titles, including the Campeonatos Cariocas in 2022 and 2023, the Libertadores in 2023, and the Recopa Sul-Americana in 2024. His impressive record and contributions to the team have solidified his position as one of the greatest players in Fluminense's history.
The next step for Fábio and Fluminense is to prepare for the quarter-finals of the Libertadores, where they will face a new challenge and look to continue their successful run in the competition.