Galo fight back against Cruzeiro to reach the semi-finals | OneFootball

A night to remember. In a decision surrounded by tension and emotion, Galo showed resilience, character, and strength to come from behind in the final minutes and secure a place in the Copa do Brasil semifinal. In front of an Arena MRV pulsating from start to finish, Atlético beat Cruzeiro 2-1 in comeback fashion and made the Massa erupt on one of the most emotional nights of the season.

The team fell behind with a penalty goal, but never stopped chasing the result. In the second half, the pressure increased, and Galo was rewarded for its persistence. Victor Hugo equalized in the 32nd minute. Then, in the 43rd, Fred stepped up to write a special chapter in his story wearing the black-and-white shirt: he received the ball from Victor Hugo and struck a beautiful shot to turn the derby around and seal qualification.

For Fred, it was an even more special night. In his first match as a starter at Arena MRV, the No. 7 scored his first professional goal for Atlético, his first in the Copa do Brasil, and also his first in a derby for Galo.

A Galo night

The atmosphere at Arena MRV started building long before kickoff.

The Massa welcomed Atlético’s team bus around the stadium with a huge celebration, turning the delegation’s arrival into a true street of fire. Hundreds of flares lit up the players’ path, while chants of support followed the team all the way to the Arena entrance.

Inside the stadium, the spectacle continued. A 3D mosaic, flags, banners, balloons, and flares took over the stands. Even Galo Doido joined the party, descending by zip line before the derby began.

And when the ball started rolling, the Massa did its part for the full 90 minutes.

Pressure from the start

Driven on by the fans, Galo came out at full throttle and created the first chances.

In the opening minutes, Cassierra headed one off the post. Cuello also found space on the right and looked dangerous. Bernard had a good chance after a move built by Galo, but Otávio made the save.

Atlético kept a presence in the attacking half and tried to build plays down the flanks and through the middle.

In the 16th minute, Ruan Tressoldi had to leave the field after feeling pain. Vitão came on in his place.

Even with the forced change, Galo kept up the intensity and continued searching for the goal.

Galo keeps pushing

Atlético kept looking for the goal and created good chances, but ended up conceding a penalty in the 29th minute. From the spot, Kaio Jorge put the visitors ahead.

Atlético 0 x 1 Cruzeiro.

The rival’s goal, however, did not change Galo’s approach.

The team kept pushing for the equalizer and created chances before halftime. Cassierra and Bernard both came close, but the score remained unchanged until the end of the first half.

Galo needed another comeback.

Galo turns up the pressure

Atlético came back for the second half keeping the pressure on.

The team occupied the attacking half and threatened the box even more. In the 15th minute, Villalba received his second yellow card and was sent off.

With a man advantage, Galo increased its attacking volume.

Eduardo Domínguez also adjusted the team’s positioning. Bernard moved more to the left side, while Kevin Castaño occupied a more central area of the field.

After the match, the coach explained the change and revealed that the decision also took into account conversations with the players themselves.

The adjustments helped Atlético maintain its intensity and increase its presence in attack. Alan Minda, Victor Hugo, and Gustavo Scarpa also came on in the second half and contributed to the comeback.

The clock kept ticking, but Galo never let up.

Persistence pays off

The equalizer finally came in the 32nd minute.

Fred received the ball in midfield and found Victor Hugo in the box with a magnificent pass. The No. 30 controlled it and finished powerfully to beat Otávio.

Atlético 1 x 1 Cruzeiro.

Arena MRV exploded, and the Massa, already singing loudly all game long, turned the volume up even more.

The goal gave Atlético the chance to seal qualification in regular time. And that is exactly what the team went after, without slowing down.

The pressure mounted, Victor Hugo also hit the post, and the team kept circling the opponent’s box.

Until the connection that had built the equalizer showed up again.

Fred, the star of the night

In the 43rd minute, after Reinier’s dummy, Victor Hugo laid it off for Fred at the edge of the box, and the No. 7 hit it first time, placing it into Otávio’s corner.

Galo 2 x 1 Cruzeiro.

Comeback.

Qualification.

And a moment Fred will never forget.

In his first game as a starter at Arena MRV, in front of the Massa, the midfielder scored his first professional goal for Atlético and decided the derby that sent Galo to the Copa do Brasil semifinal.

During the celebration, Arena MRV went wild.

His decisive role in both goals also summed up a night in which Galo found another key piece off the bench to build the comeback. Victor Hugo scored the equalizer and assisted Fred for the winner that sealed qualification.

Victor Hugo delivers

Back on the pitch after overcoming a spell in the medical department, Victor Hugo came off the bench and was decisive in Atlético’s comeback.

The No. 30 scored the equalizer in the 32nd minute and, eleven minutes later, made his mark again, this time as provider. With precision, he found Fred for the comeback goal and qualification.

In the mixed zone, Victor Hugo celebrated his direct involvement in both goals on a night that marked his return to the pitch.

The player highlighted the importance of all the work done during his time in the medical department and the satisfaction of being able to repay that effort in a Copa do Brasil decider.

With qualification secured, Victor Hugo also reinforced the importance of keeping the group’s dedication and focus for the rest of the season, with an eye on more achievements.

The strength of a group

There were standout players in the qualification, but it was built by the entire squad.

Renan Lodi pointed out that Atlético’s strength had shown even before the sending-off. For the full-back, Galo was already playing well when both teams still had eleven men.

Lodi also highlighted the contribution of the players who came on during the match and the strength the group has been building over the last few months.

The full-back also reminded everyone that Atlético has not won anything yet, but emphasized the importance of the work being done.

The win was Atlético’s 14th consecutive match unbeaten this season. The run stands at eight wins and six draws.

Superiority in numbers

Atlético’s comeback also showed in the match stats. Galo finished the derby with 61% possession and 25 shots, compared to 13.

The dominance in build-up play was also clear. Atlético completed 554 passes, with 84% accuracy, and had eight corners.

In attack, there were 25 shots, with nine on target, two off the post, and six blocked.

Galo also registered 12 tackles won, compared to eight, and finished the match with only one yellow card.

Match stats

Sacrifice to be on the field

The qualification was also marked by stories of sacrifice even before kickoff.

Everson had been a doubt for the derby because of an injury suffered in the first leg. Even so, he was in the starting lineup.

After the match, doctor Rodrigo Lasmar revealed that the goalkeeper played with a fracture in his left foot. Everson had been undergoing intensive treatment since the first meeting and received an anesthetic block to be able to train and play.

The procedure was repeated at halftime.

The goalkeeper also thanked the medical staff, physiotherapy team, and his family for the work done in the days leading up to the derby.

Now, Everson will need to stop activities to treat the fracture. The treatment will be conservative, with no need for surgery.

One more step

The win put Atlético into the Copa do Brasil semifinal and kept Galo alive in the title race.

The opponent will be the winner of the tie between Grêmio and Internacional.

The semifinals are scheduled for November 1 and 8.

Before that, Galo turns its attention back to the Brasileirão. On Saturday (5), the team faces São Paulo at 6:30 p.m. at Morumbis, in the 26th round.

But the night of September 1 had already earned a special place in the season.

It was a night of pressure. Of being behind. Of adversity. Of persistence. But also of grit, connection with the Massa, and a whole lot of passion.

A night when Galo never stopped believing.

And, in front of the Massa, came from behind in the derby, knocked out its rival, and advanced.

📋 Match sheet

ATLÉTICO 2 x 1 CRUZEIRO

Competition: Copa do Brasil – Quarterfinals (second leg)📍 Venue: Arena MRV – Belo Horizonte📅 Date: September 1, 2026

⚽ Goals: Kaio Jorge (29' 1H), Victor Hugo (32' 2H), and Fred (43' 2H).

Atlético: Everson; Natanael (Gustavo Scarpa), Ruan (Vitão), Vitor Hugo, Renan Lodi; Alan Franco (Alan Minda), Kevin Castaño; Bernard (Victor Hugo), Fred, Cuello; Cassierra (Reinier).Head coach: Eduardo Domínguez.

Cruzeiro: Otávio; Fagner, Fabrício Bruno, Jonathan Jesus (João Marcelo), Villalba; Lucas Romero, Gerson (Matheus Henrique), Matheus Pereira (Gabriel Rojas); Wesley (Kaique Kenji), Arroyo, Kaio Jorge (Neiser Villareal).Head coach: Artur Jorge.

🟨 Yellow cards: Natanael (Atlético); Otávio, Kaio Jorge, Villalba, Lucas Romero, Fabrício Bruno, and Arroyo (Cruzeiro).

🟥 Red card: Villalba (Cruzeiro), for a second yellow card.

👥 Attendance: 42,992 fans

Officials: Raphael Claus (SP), Danilo Ricardo Simon Manis (SP), and Victor Hugo Imazu dos Santos (PR).VAR: Rodrigo Guarizo Ferreira do Amaral (SP)

Follow Galo on social media: @atletico

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