Fabio’s 43-year-old body was heading west. Kahraba, six yards out, headed the ball forcibly to the goalkeeper’s east. The Al Ahly supporters behind the goal leapt off their seats, arms in air, to rejoice deadlock being broken in minute 37 of the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™ semi-final.

Fabio, defying age, refuting the rules of reflex, reacted instantaneously and somehow repelled it – in an awkward position north-east of his right shoulder – with one palm.

“It was a difficult save,” said Fabio. “The ball took a ricochet, fell to the opponent. He shot with his head and I had to react as soon as possible. Thank God I was able to make that save at a decisive moment in the game.”

The save – one of seven the Fluminense No1 King Abdullah Sports City Stadium – swung the momentum. Thereafter, ‘Dinizismo’ – the Tricolor’s unique, opponent-befuddling brand of football – asserted itself and goals from Jhon Arias and John Kennedy secured a deserved 2-0 win.

“Just another day in the life of Fabio!” said an awestruck Arias. “He’s a goalkeeper always helps us a lot. He’s tremendous. He’s in extremely good form.”

“Fabio made one or two great saves,” said John Kennedy. “Or, actually, Fabio did what he always does.”
“It was an incredible save,” said Samuel Xavier. “Fabio’s really experienced. It seems as if he always knows where the striker is going to put the ball.

“He always comes up with big saves. It instils us with a lot of confidence. He had a great game.”

Fabio wasn’t the only one Samuel Xavier singled out for praise.

“I thought Martinelli and Andre were outstanding,” the right-back said of the 22-year-old central midfielders. “I thought we played well defensively and once we got going, we played beautiful football.

“This is Fluminense. Diniz always tells us we can’t stray from doing what we do, what we train. This is us, our style. We’re really happy with the performance and with reach the Club World Cup final. It’s a great sensation.”

“Until we got going it was difficult,” commented Fabio. “We were up against a quality side. After a while our football started to flow, we had a lot of possession, quick transitions. This favoured our game and our talented players.”

Talents such as Ganso, Arias and John Kennedy thrilled and took the plaudits on Monday evening, but Fabio’s denial of Kahraba may have been the most crucial contribution of the match for Fluminense.