Flamengo go ahead, but Cruzeiro fight back, giving Palmeiras hope | OneFootball

Cruzeiro turned the game around at the death at Mineirão

Flamengo and Cruzeiro met again for the third time in ten days. This time, the teams faced off in the 24th round of the Brazilian Championship. On this occasion, at Mineirão, the home side came from behind at the very end to win 2-1.

How was the first half?

The first half started at a lively pace, with chances for both sides. However, Flamengo opened the scoring in the 21st minute. In the move, Fla caught Cruzeiro’s defense exposed on a counterattack. Arrascaeta drove forward through midfield and found Pedro at the edge of the box. Fabrício Bruno tracked from a distance and saw the No. 9 hit a low shot across goal to make it 1-0.

In short, in the 29th minute, Cruzeiro tried to respond to Flamengo’s goal. Fabrício Bruno played a good long ball to Fagner, who received it on the right side of the attack and flicked it with his heel to João Costa. First time, the Minas Gerais side’s forward unleashed a powerful long-range effort, but the ball went just wide of Rossi’s post.

And the second half?

Just like the first half, the second period began with both teams pushing for a goal. However, unlike the opening minutes, Cruzeiro came back from the break looking better. As a result, in the 9th minute, the Minas Gerais side equalized.

In summary, Arroyo built the move and also scored Cruzeiro’s equalizer early in the second half. In the play, Matheus Henrique passed to the No. 99 near the corner of Flamengo’s box, on the right side. The midfielder cut past Samuel Lino and curled it home to make it 1-1 at Mineirão.

Flamengo tried to respond through Bruno Henrique, who came on in the 26th minute of the second half. In the meantime, the No. 27 burst down the left, cut inside, and sent a dangerous ball into the box. However, Plata narrowly failed to get there for the finish.

What happened in the final minute?

Finally, at the death, Flamengo allowed Cruzeiro to complete the comeback. In the 49th minute of the second half, that is, in stoppage time, Gerson lofted the ball to the far post. Villalba nodded it back, and Matheus Pereira, unmarked, struck it first time to give the Minas Gerais side the lead: 2-1, and full time at Mineirão.

What is the situation in the standings?

With the defeat to Cruzeiro, Flamengo remained in second place in the Brazilian Championship standings. The Rubro-Negro currently has 45 points, that is, three behind Palmeiras, the tournament leader, with 48, who still have to play in the 24th round against Vasco on Sunday (22).

What is Flamengo’s next match?

Out of the Copa do Brasil, Flamengo will only return to the pitch next weekend. Thus, on Sunday (30), the Most Beloved faces Botafogo at 4:00 p.m. (Brasília time). The match, valid for the 25th round of the Brasileirão, will take place at the Maracanã, with live broadcast on Rede Globo on free-to-air TV, as well as GE TV (YouTube) and Premiere (pay-per-view).

MATCH DETAILSCRUZEIRO x FLAMENGO

Competition: Brasileirão, Round 24Venue: Mineirão, Belo HorizonteDate: August 22, 2026, SaturdayTime: 8:30 p.m. (Brasília time)

What were the lineups?

Cruzeiro: Otávio; Fagner, Fabrício Bruno, João Marcelo and Villalba; Romero, Matheus Henrique and Matheus Pereira; João Costa, Arroyo and Kaio Jorge.Coach: Artur Jorge.

Flamengo: Rossi; Guillermo Varela, Danilo, Léo Ortiz and Ayrton Lucas; Erick Pulgar, Lucas Paquetá and Arrascaeta; Carrascal, Samuel Lino and Pedro.Coach: Leonardo Jardim.

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