Fred helps Fluminense top Arsenal

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)

Striker Fred scored just three minutes into the match and Fluminense held on to a 1-0 win over Arsenal of Argentina in both teams' opening game in Group 4 of the Copa Libertadores on Tuesday.

Fred got the early winner at the Engenhao stadium with a shot from inside the area after defender Lisandro Lopez failed to clear a cross from the left.

Arsenal pressured at the end but was not able to capitalize on its scoring chances.

Players got into an altercation in the 75th and a few players shoved each other, prompting the match to be stopped for a few moments. Fluminense midfielder Wagner and Arsenal forward Nicolas Aguirre were sent off.

Fluminense also had defender Leandro Euzebio red carded in the 90th following a hard foul.

The other two teams in Group 4 are Argentina's Boca Juniors and Venezuela's Zamora.

Fluminense, which also has Thiago Neves and former Chelsea and Portugal midfielder Deco in its squad, was runner-up in the 2008 Copa Libertadores, losing the final at home in a penalty shootout against Ecuador's Liga de Quito.

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Lineups:

Fluminense: Diego Cavalieri, Bruno, Anderson, Leandro Euzebio, Carlinhos, Edinho, Diguinho (Digao, 90), Wagner, Deco (Wellington Nem, 72), Thiago Neves, (Rafael Sobis, 65) Fred.

Arsenal: Cristian Campestrini, Hugo Nervo (Adrian Gonzalez, 81), Lisandro Lopez, Guillermo Burdisso, Damian Perez, Carlos Carbonero, Ivan Marcone, Gaston Esmerado (Diego Torres, 64), Nicolas Diego Aguirre, Luciano Leguizamon, Emilio Jose Zelaya (Jorge Cristian Cordoba, 72).