🎥 Palmeiras v Cruzeiro full of controversy, check out the key moments | OneFootball

The anticipation was high for the clash between league leaders Palmeiras and third-placed Cruzeiro on Sunday night (26).

And controversy was in abundance at Allianz Parque in front of 40,029 attendees.

There was VAR protagonism, referee Rafael Rodrigo Klein in the spotlight, and even a bottle thrown at Cássio.

The most dangerous chances came from Raposa, who played with one man down for about 26 minutes.

And in the end, the score remained 0-0. 

It Started with CONTROVERSY

It took just 11 minutes for the first incident to spark complaints.

After a challenge by Gustavo Gómez on Wanderson, the Cruzeiro winger had to be substituted.

Rafael Rodrigo Klein (RS) was called, watched the incident on the monitor, and decided on a yellow card for the Verdão captain. 

Left Much to Be Desired...

The first half was full of fouls – five yellow cards – and a lot of sweat.

But inspiration was lacking. Especially for the home team, who didn’t even manage a shot on target against Cássio. 

Cruzeiro was the more organized team on the pitch. And had the best chance after Arroyo forced Carlos Miguel into a great save at the 30-minute mark. 

Was There a Foul to Disallow?

The second half saw the "second round" between Arroyo and Carlos Miguel – again, the Palmeiras goalkeeper came out on top.

The sequence brought frustration for Palmeiras after Rafael Rodrigo Klein called a foul by Sosa on Cássio. 

Grupo Globo’s refereeing consultant, former referee Paulo César de Oliveira, agreed with the decision. 

A hand on the ball, even if it’s on the ground, means the goalkeeper has possession. And in that case, the ball cannot be touched.  

Sending Off 🟥

One of Abel’s substitutions, Allan broke through the rival’s defense.

And earned a second yellow for Fabrício Bruno, leaving Cruzeiro with one man down 26 minutes into the second half.

This led to Arroyo being sacrificed on the Cruzeiro side. 

And There Was Still This 😳

The final minutes saw Palmeiras trying to pin Cruzeiro back.

The expected pressure was interrupted after Cássio was hit by a bottle before stoppage time.

Cruzeiro had the last big chance of the match after Matheus Pereira found Kaio Jorge. But once again, Carlos Miguel said “no.” 

📊 Standings and Schedule 📅

Verdão moved up to 62 points. They remain with one more win than Flamengo, who have 61.

It was their first point in the two matches against Fla and Cruzeiro in the league. 

On Thursday (30), the challenge will be the return leg of the Libertadores semifinal.

They will host LDU after a 3-0 defeat at Quito’s altitude.

Then on Sunday (2), Abel’s team will visit Juventude for the 31st round of the league.

Raposa, meanwhile, reached 57 points. And with one more game played than the top two. 

Their next league opponent will be Vitória, on Saturday (1). The match will take place at Mineirão.

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

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