Cruzeiro beat Pouso Alegre, take the lead in the Mineiro semi-final | OneFootball

Cruzeiro took the lead in the race for a spot in the final of the Campeonato Mineiro by defeating Pouso Alegre 2-1 away from home. With this result, the celestial team holds the advantage of a draw for the return match.

GAME SUMMARY

Cruzeiro controlled the game from the early minutes. With greater ball possession and constant presence in the offensive field, the team piled up chances. Neiser Villarreal hit the post with a dangerous header, Kaiki Bruno threatened with a close-range shot, and Lucas Romero also tried from outside the area.

Despite the volume, the team couldn't convert their superiority into a goal. Pouso Alegre adopted a more defensive stance and hardly posed any threat to Cássio's goal in the first half, which ended goalless.

Returning from the break, Cruzeiro maintained the pressure and became more efficient. At 18 minutes, Lucas Silva shot from the midfield, with a deflection in the defense, and opened the scoring. The goal gave even more control to the celestial team, which continued to exploit the flanks.

At 29 minutes, William made a good play on the right and crossed for Bruno Rodrigues to extend the lead with a header, marking his first goal since returning to the club. With a 2-0 lead, Cruzeiro managed the match but saw Pouso Alegre reduce the deficit at 43 minutes with a penalty converted by Romário.

In the final minutes, the opponent still tried to press, but Cássio made a decisive save from a low free-kick in injury time, securing the victory and the celestial advantage for the return match.

Cruzeiro's Schedule

The decisive semifinal match is scheduled for next Saturday (28) at Mineirão. With the triumph in the first leg, Cruzeiro plays for a draw in front of their fans to secure a spot in the State final.

Before that, however, the team turns its attention to the Brazilian Championship. This Wednesday (25), at 8 PM, also at Mineirão, the celestial team faces Corinthians in the fourth round of the competition.

On the national scene, the moment is still delicate. Without a win in the first three rounds, Cruzeiro has only one point and is at the bottom of the table.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.