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The home side were on top the first half, with Cleber Santana firing over with their first effort on four minutes, before Paulo Baier’s free-kick was tipped away by Diego Cavalieri.
With half an hour gone, Atletico had a great opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Wagner Diniz. Santana stepped up, but his effort was too close to Cavalieri, who parried it to safety.
Moments before the interval, the home fans were celebrating what they thought was the opening goal.
Baier’s floated free-kick from the left hand side missed everybody, allowing Santiago Garcia to touch in at the back post. However, the celebrations were short lived, with the referee disallowing the goal for handball.
The second half began with a yellow card for Flu’s Mariano, who was late coming out of the dressing room and almost prompted a substitution as a result.
Goalscoring opportunities were tough to come by, but Marquinho tested Atletico goalkeeper Renan Rocha with a free-kick which was well saved.
The deadlock was finally broken on 63 minutes. Santana found Baier inside the box, who fired a low shot across Cavalieri and into the far corner to make it 1-0 to Atletico Paranaense.
With so few opportunities for either side, it looked as if it would be enough for the hosts to take maximum points.
But 2010 Brasileirão champions Fluminense were given a route back into the game when, with 20 minutes remaining, Rafael Santos received a second yellow card and was sent off.
Fred fired the resulting free-kick over to the sound of mocking cheers from the home support, but the Brazil striker would have the last laugh.
In the first minute of injury time, the visitors were awarded a penalty of their own, and Fred showed Santana how it is done by firing low to the ‘keeper’s right.
There were ugly scenes at the final whistle, as the referee and his assistants had to be protected by police as home fans protested the penalty decision.
Fluminense stay in fifth place, five points off leaders Vasco da Gama, while Atletico are third from bottom and three points from safety.
