Corinthians waste chances, lose to Cruzeiro in Brasileirão | OneFootball

On Sunday night (16), Corinthians took the field at Neo Química Arena to face Cruzeiro in a match valid for the 23rd round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship and lost 2-1. Alvinegro’s goal was scored by Gustavo Henrique. With the result, Corinthians drop to ninth place with 32 points — eight wins, eight draws, and seven defeats — with 25 goals scored and 22 conceded.

The Corinthians coaching staff could not count on the following players for the match against the Minas Gerais side: center-back André Ramalho (labyrinthitis), defensive midfielder André Luiz (grade 2 injury in the back of his right thigh), midfielders Vitinho (recovering from surgery on the meniscus in his left knee) and Zakaria Labyad (undergoing surgery after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee), as well as forwards Kayke Ferrari (recovering from surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee) and Yuri Alberto (being treated for a grade 2 injury in the back of his right thigh).

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

With that, coach Fernando Diniz sent out the following lineup to start the match: Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Gustavo Henrique, Gabriel Paulista (João Pedro Tchoca) and Matheus Bidu; Allan, André Carrillo (Matheus Pereira), Breno Bidon (Jesse Lingard) and Rodrigo Garro; Kaio César (Dieguinho) and Pedro Raul (Gui Negão).

The bench options were: Kauê Camargo, Iago Machado, João Pedro Tchoca, Pedro Milans, Fabrizio Angileri, Raniele, Charles, Matheus Pereira, Alex Santana, Jesse Lingard, Dieguinho and Gui Negão.

Cruzeiro lineup

Portuguese coach Arthur Jorge chose to start the match with: Otávio, Fagner, João Marcelo, Jonathan Jesus and Villalba; Lucas Romero and Zé Lucas; Bruno Rodrigues, João Costa, Felipe Morais and Kaio Jorge.

The substitutes were: Vitor Lamounier, Kauã Moraes, Willia,, Fabrício Bruno, Gabriel Rojas, Lucas Silva, Gérson, Matheus Pereira, Marquinhos, Wanderson, Arroyo and Lucho Rodríguez.

Officiating

The referee was Davi de Oliveira Lacerda (ES), assisted by Thiaggo Americano Labes (SC) and Douglas Pagung (RJ). The fourth official and the VAR were, respectively, Bruno Mota Correia (RJ) and Paulo Renato Moreira da Silva Coelho (RJ).

Next match

Now, after hosting Cruzeiro in the Brazilian Championship, Corinthians turn their focus to the second leg of the round of 16 in the 2026 Conmebol Libertadores. That is because next Thursday (20), at 9:30 p.m. Brasília time, Alvinegro will face Rosario Central-ARG, also at Neo Química Arena. If there is another draw, the team advancing to the quarterfinals will be decided on penalties.

First half

The opening minutes of the match between Corinthians and Cruzeiro saw the home side pressing high in the defensive half of the Minas Gerais team. The visitors, meanwhile, tried to build from the back along the ground while Timão marked tightly. In the third minute, Hugo Souza hit a pass too hard to Gabriel Paulista, who kept the ball in play and found Pedro Raul with his back to goal, but the No. 18 could not hold it up.

Six minutes in, Cruzeiro had a little more control of possession and tried to impose their rhythm. A minute later, forward Kaio Jorge switched play to Fagner on the right. No. 23 found Bruno Rodrigues, who struck from midfield range and Hugo Souza parried it away. In the ninth minute, Fagner crossed toward the left side, Zé Lucas laid it back, and Gabriel Paulista cleared the danger.

In the 10th minute, Breno Bidon received a switch on the left and passed to Garro, who crossed to the right, where there was nobody from Timão; Villalba cleared it. Three minutes later, André Carrillo played out from the back, beat a few markers, and switched it to Matheus Bidu on the left. No. 21 received it, looked into the box, and crossed toward Pedro Raul, who could not get his header away and the opposing defense cleared!

Shortly after, Bidon was played in on the right and passed to Kaio César, who shifted onto his left foot and crossed to Pedro Raul, whose weak header went straight into goalkeeper Otávio’s hands. In the 17th minute, after a through ball, Rodrigo Garro received it and burst forward, but alone and with no support, he was cleanly dispossessed.

In the 18th minute, Matheus Bidu found Kaio César infield. No. 37 received it and quickly fed Pedro Raul, who held it up and laid it off for Kaio César to shoot into traffic. On the rebound, after a cross came in from the left into the box, Pedro Raul committed a foul. Right after that, Bruno Rodrigues was played through down the left, but the move was stopped for offside.

In the 20th minute, Matheuzinho, after receiving an aerial ball, challenged Jonathan Jesus on the right and won a corner. Rodrigo Garro took it and Otávio punched it away. Then Timão built from the back and found Garro through the middle. No. 8 received it and passed to André Carrillo, who laid it off for Kaio César to shoot straight at the Cruzeiro keeper.

In the 23rd minute, Timão played out from the back, Matheus Bidu received it on the left, crossed, and the opposing defense cleared. Then Cruzeiro nearly scored an own goal! Center-back João Marcelo, after receiving a pass from Jonathan Jesus, hit a strong back-pass toward goal and Otávio prevented the ball from ending up in the net!

In the 28th minute, a great chance for Corinthians! Gabriel Paulista passed to Gustavo Henrique, who then found Bidon on the left. No. 7 chipped it to Rodrigo Garro after Pedro Raul drew the marking and opened space; No. 8 brought it down and struck the post by goalkeeper Otávio!

In the 30th minute, Cruzeiro pressed Timão’s buildup, Hugo Souza launched it long and, after Pedro Raul failed to control it, André Carrillo committed a foul on the left side of the visitors’ attack. Right-back Fagner took it straight into Hugo Souza’s hands. In the next minute, Cruzeiro won a corner from the left after Kaio Jorge won a duel. Fagner sent in an inswinger that went straight out.

In the 34th minute, after a cross from the right, Fagner failed to clear, Breno Bidon controlled it, set himself, and shot into the marking of center-back João Marcelo! A minute later came Cruzeiro’s first goal. Matheuzinho misplaced a pass to Allan in midfield. Lucas Romero won it, played in Felipe Morais, who crossed, and João Costa headed it; Hugo Souza made an excellent save, but Bruno Rodrigues scored on the rebound.

In the 37th minute, Kaio César received it on the right and crossed toward Pedro Raul at mid-height, but the shot was blocked. Two minutes later, Matheuzinho fouled Felipe Morais. Fagner swung in a dangerous ball from midfield and Hugo Souza pushed it out for a corner. The right-back again took it with curl, straight into Timão’s goalkeeper’s hands.

In the 42nd minute, Rodrigo Garro played Kaio César through, but Cruzeiro’s defense cleared the danger. When the clock hit 45 minutes, three were added. In the 46th, Matheuzinho received it on the right and crossed toward Garro in the box. No. 8 laid it off for Pedro Raul, who did not go for it.

After Timão’s attack broke down, Cruzeiro counterattacked. Kaio Jorge spread play to the right and, after the cross from the right went past everyone, Hugo Souza made the save from Villalba’s shot. At 48 minutes, the first half ended: Corinthians 0-1 Cruzeiro.

Second half

To start the second half, coach Fernando Diniz brought on midfielder Jesse Lingard in place of midfielder Breno Bidon. The opening minutes of the second half between Corinthians and Cruzeiro were marked by Timão trying to press the visitors in the attacking half.

In the second minute, Corinthians almost equalized! After a move by Kaio César on the right, No. 37 crossed, Zé Lucas cleared, and on the rebound Rodrigo Garro hit a firm shot that Otávio pushed out for a corner! From the set piece, Gustavo Henrique headed it into the marking. The Minas Gerais side responded with a counterattack. After a switch of play to the right byline, Matheuzinho cleared for a throw-in.

Then Kaio César was played in down the right wing and was fouled by Villalba. Garro crossed onto Gustavo Henrique’s head, but he failed to finish well. Right after that, the visitors responded with a counterattack. Kaio Jorge, from midfield, drove forward and released João Costa on the right. No. 67 shot and Hugo Souza parried it for a corner!

After the loose ball from the set piece, Corinthians started a counterattack through the middle with Rodrigo Garro, who was fouled by Felipe Morais just as he was about to release Kaio César clean through on goal. After play resumed, André Carrillo struck firmly from midfield range, straight wide! In the eighth minute, Gabriel Paulista was substituted with hip pain. João Pedro Tchoca came on in his place, making his first appearance since March.

In the ninth minute, defensive midfielder Allan shot from long range into goalkeeper Otávio’s hands. Three minutes later, Matheuzinho was fouled on the right and Corinthians equalized! Garro delivered the ball in, Otávio came out badly with a punch, and Gustavo Henrique volleyed home to level the match! Score: Corinthians 1-1 Cruzeiro! Right after that, the visitors made a mistake building out and Kaio César had a shot blocked from the right wing.

Later, Cruzeiro responded with an attack down the left. Villalba reached the byline on the left, crossed, and André Carrillo cleared. On the rebound, right-back Fagner had his shot blocked by the defense. He then took the corner from the right himself and the Corinthians defense cleared. In the 19th minute, João Costa beat Matheuzinho on the right and crossed. Fagner tried a pass inside and André Carrillo cleared.

In the 21st minute, Kaio César combined well on the right with Matheuzinho, but the duo failed to finish the move properly. In the next minute, Cruzeiro threatened. Winger Arroyo received it on the right, cut inside, and shot with a deflection for a corner. The ball passed close to Hugo Souza’s goal. From the corner, Gustavo Henrique cleared.

Then Tchoca blocked an attempted cross from the left side of the attack. Matheus Pereira took it and Matheuzinho again sent it behind for a corner. On another attempt after a cross into the middle of the six-yard box, Timão’s defense cleared it! In the 24th minute, midfielder Dieguinho and forward Gui Negão came on for Kaio César and Pedro Raul.

In the next minute, Gui Negão received it on the right wing and found Garro at the edge of the box, but the Argentine did not continue the move. In the 27th minute, Corinthians put together a good attack. Dieguinho received it centrally and switched play to Matheus Bidu on the left. No. 21 shot across goal and wide of Otávio’s net!

In the 29th minute, Cruzeiro won a corner on the right. From a quick play, Gérson hit a left-footed shot from midfield range over the goal. Moments later, the visitors tried to counterattack. Arroyo received it on the right, cut onto his left, and just as he was winding up to shoot, Jesse Lingard made the tackle.

Two minutes later, Dieguinho lost the ball in the attacking half. Matheus Pereira received it through the middle and, when trying to switch it to the right, overhit the pass for Arroyo. In the 32nd minute, Cruzeiro nearly scored a second. Joãoo Costa received it in the middle and passed to Matheus Pereira, who spread it to Arroyo. No. 99 laid it off to Fagner and forward Lucho Rodríguez hit the right post of Hugo Souza’s goal. The ball went out for a corner.

In the 33rd minute, Matheus Bidu, on the left, delivered a pinpoint cross onto Gui Negão’s head, but his header went just past Otávio’s post and behind for a goal kick. In the 34th minute, Timão made their last change: midfielder André Carrillo went off and Matheus Pereira came on. Two minutes later, Corinthians won the ball back in attack, Matheus Pereira received it and passed to Rodrigo Garro, who was brought down inside the box, but nothing was given.

In the 37th minute, Cruzeiro’s second goal. Lucho Rodríguez received it on the byline and crossed onto the head of forward Wanderson, who headed it into Hugo Souza’s right corner. In the 40th minute, Garro tried to find Gui Negão inside, but right-back Fagner put it out for a throw-in. Then Matheuzinho cut out a pass in behind for Arroyo and sent it straight out for another throw.

In the 44th minute, Dieguinho received it on the left wing and played it into the box, where Gustavo Henrique tried to challenge goalkeeper Otávio, who gathered the ball. When the clock reached 45 minutes, stoppage time was added. In the 46th, Lucho Rodríguez went past Matheuzinho and sent Tchoca to the ground, but was eventually dispossessed.

In the 48th minute, Matheuzinho received it on the byline on the right and crossed straight into goalkeeper Otávio’s hands. Shortly after, Timão’s No. 2 crossed onto Gustavo Henrique’s head, but his deflected header went over the bar. Garro took the corner and Tchoca headed it into the Cruzeiro keeper’s hands. In the final play, Rodrigo Garro received Allan’s long ball on the left wing and was fouled.

The Argentine No. 8 took it and Matheuzinho had his shot blocked. At 50 minutes, full-time: Corinthians 1-2 Cruzeiro.

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