Jorginho's route for Flamengo to knock Cruzeiro out of the Libertadores

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Coluna do Fla

·13 August 2026

Jorginho's route for Flamengo to knock Cruzeiro out of the Libertadores

Flamengo and Cruzeiro drew 1-1 in the first leg of the Libertadores Round of 16

Flamengo managed to earn a draw away from home against Cruzeiro in the first leg of the Libertadores Round of 16, but Jorginho believes there is room for the Rubro-Negro side to improve. Therefore, on Wednesday (12), the player said that the Maracanã crowd will be crucial for the return match.

— It was a good game, I believe we put in a good performance, with a lot of commitment. We went after the result after falling behind. This is a group that is hungry to win and make history for this club -, said the midfielder after the match between Mengo and Cruzeiro, and added:

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— So, this is the way forward. There are things to improve, but there are also many positive things we can take into the return leg, at home, together with the fans, who will be there to push us on and give all the support they can -, he emphasized.

What were Jorginho’s stats and numbers in Flamengo vs Cruzeiro?

The Italian-Brazilian was one of Flamengo’s best players at Mineirão. The midfielder completed 48 of the 57 passes he attempted against Cruzeiro, as well as two long balls. Defensively, Jorginho dispossessed three opponents and made three interceptions.

The goals were scored by Kenny Arroyo for Cruzeiro and Lucas Paquetá for Flamengo. However, the match was marked by the controversy of Matheus Henrique not being sent off after planting his studs into Bruno Henrique’s shin.

What are the date, time, and tiebreaker rule for the return leg at the Maracanã?

With the aggregate score level, the teams will decide the spot in the Libertadores quarterfinals from 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) on Wednesday (19). So, the ball will roll at the Maracanã in front of the Mengão fans.

Competition table provided by Superscore

If the draw remains, the spot will be decided on penalties. Then, the winner will face the winner of Tolima (COL) vs Independiente del Valle (EQU), which takes place from 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) on Thursday (13).

What is the author’s opinion on Jorginho’s performance and fitness?

I’d venture to say that Jorginho was the best player on the pitch at Mineirão, but I understand that the fact Lucas Paquetá scored the equalizer with his one touch on the ball is decisive,” said João Vítor Reis of Coluna do Fla, who added: “But we can’t fail to highlight the Italian-Brazilian’s physical strength, as at 34 years old he played the full 90 minutes. There are younger players in Flamengo’s squad who can’t get out of the medical department,” he opined.

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