Corinthians rally with starters, snatch draw at Cruzeiro in Brasileirão

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Central do Timão

·26 de febrero de 2026

Corinthians rally with starters, snatch draw at Cruzeiro in Brasileirão

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Corinthians faced Cruzeiro on the night of this Wednesday (25), at Mineirão Stadium, in a match valid for the fourth round of the Brazilian Championship and drew with a score of 1 x 1. The goal for the Alvinegro was scored by defender João Pedro Tchoca, towards the end of the second half. With this result, the Corinthians team temporarily rises to third place with seven points – two wins, one draw, and one loss – five goals scored and three conceded.

The Corinthians coaching staff, for the match, could not count on the following players: goalkeeper Felipe Longo (elbow discomfort), left-back Hugo Farias (recovering from surgery on the right knee), midfielder Matheus Pereira (grade 2 injury in the left thigh biceps femoris), as well as forwards Kaio César (grade 2 injury in the left thigh biceps femoris) and Yuri Alberto (treating an injury in the right thigh posterior muscle).

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Thus, Corinthians was lined up as follows to start the match: Hugo Souza; Pedro Milans, João Pedro Thoca, André Ramalho, and Fabrizio Angileri; Raniele (André Luiz), Charles (Rodrigo Garro), André Carrillo, and Breno Bidon (Dieguinho); Vitinho (Allan) and Pedro Raul (Memphis Depay).

The bench had the following options: Kauê Camargo, Matheuzinho, Matheus Bidu, Gustavo Henrique, Gabriel Paulista, Allan, André Luiz, Rodrigo Garro, Dieguinho, Kayke, Gui Negão, and Memphis Depay.

Cruzeiro Lineup

Coach Tite lined up the following formation: Cássio; William, Fabrício Bruno, Villalba, and Kaiki; Lucas Romero, Lucas Silva, Christian, Gerson, and Matheus Pereira; Kaio Jorge.

The bench had the following substitutes: Otávio, Fagner, João Marcelo, Janderson, Kauã Prates, Wallace, Matheus Henrique, Japa, Arroyo, Wanderson, Bruno Rodrigues, and Neyser.

Refereeing

The referee was Davi de Oliveira Lacerda (ES), assisted by Victor Hugo Amazu dos Santos (PR) and Douglas Pagung (ES). The fourth referee and the VAR were, respectively, Yuri Elino Ferreira da Cruz (RJ) and Daniel Nobre Lins (RS).

Next Commitment

After facing Cruzeiro away, for the fourth round of the Brasileirão, Corinthians shifts its focus to the Paulista Championship. Next Saturday (28), at 8:30 PM (Brasília time), the Alvinegro faces Novorizontino at Jorge Ismael de Biasi Stadium, for the state semifinal. A draw takes the decision to penalties.

First Half

The first minutes of the match between Cruzeiro and Corinthians had a balance in ball possession between the clubs. The Alvinegro, in turn, sought alternatives in ball exit, circulating possession mainly in the defensive field. At five minutes, the Corinthians team made a mistake in ball exit and Matheus Pereira activated William, who went face to face with Hugo Souza and simulated a penalty.

Both teams congested the midfield, resulting in an ineffective ball exit. At eight minutes, Cruzeiro's first goal. Midfielder Matheus Pereira received and started a play on the right, activated Kaio Jorge. The forward played a pivot and returned to number 10, who shot into Hugo Souza's right corner. Score: Cruzeiro 1 x 0 Corinthians.

At 11 minutes, forward Vitinho received on the left and shot into goalkeeper Cássio's hands. Two minutes later, Gerson launched Matheus Pereira and activated Lucas Romero at the edge of the area. Number 29 shot hard and Hugo Souza deflected! Five minutes later, Corinthians returned to the attack field, but Pedro Milans crossed directly out.

At 21 minutes, Cruzeiro had another opportunity on a counterattack, with Christian receiving in depth and shooting, crossed, into Hugo Souza's hands. Until halfway through the first half, Cruzeiro completely controlled the match, being objective and incisive in its offensive actions, while Corinthians struggled in ball exit and maintaining control.

At 26 minutes, Corinthians got a corner on the left, Cássio punched up and caught in two times. Eight minutes later, Cruzeiro threatened again. The Minas Gerais team started a play from the defensive field, pushed Alvinegro to its defensive field, and midfielder Lucas Silva received in the midfield. Number 16 crossed towards Christian, who headed out.

At 39 minutes, Matheus Pereira made a play inside and activated Kaio Jorge, who scored Cruzeiro's second goal. However, the offside was called. When the clock hit 45 minutes, four were added. In the first additional minute, Pedro Raul recovered the ball in the midfield and activated Vitinho on the left. Number 11 brought it inside and opened the play for Angileri, who crossed towards Pedro Raul, but defender Villalba cleared the danger.

In the last minute of added time, Corinthians tried to set up a play on the right attack, but André Carrillo crossed directly out. At 49, end of the first half. Score: Cruzeiro 1 x 0 Corinthians.

Second Half

To start the second half, coach Dorival Júnior brought in midfielder André Luiz and midfielder Dieguinho in place of midfielder Breno Bidon and midfielder Raniele. The first minutes of the final stage saw Corinthians launching into the attack precisely with the two players who came in, but the refereeing stopped the play for offside after number 49, in an irregular position, received a pass on the goal line.

At three minutes of the final stage, midfielder Lucas Silva took a tight corner and goalkeeper Hugo Souza cleared practically on the line. Soon after, Matheus Pereira received on the right wing and crossed tightly into the hands of the Corinthians number 1. In sequence, Dieguinho was activated on the right goal line, dribbled Gerson, but crossed tightly and Vitinho ended up not completing the play on the opposite side.

Soon after, Vitinho crossed into the area and left-back Kaiki sent the ball over the goal line. On the corner, Dieguinho tried to activate André Ramalho in the air, but the Cruzeiro defense cleared. At nine minutes, Corinthians stole the ball in the midfield, it fell to Pedro Raul, who shot wide.

At 13 minutes, Cruzeiro threatened again. Gerson received on the right wing and passed to Matheus Pereira, who adjusted for the left foot and shot near goalkeeper Hugo Souza's right corner. In sequence, Kaio Jorge, on a counterattack from the opponent, was activated on the left wing, tried to pass João Pedro Thoca, and had his shot blocked.

In a rehearsed free-kick at 18 minutes, Cruzeiro almost reached the second goal. The ball bounced in the small area, but Fabrizio Angileri cleared. Three minutes later, midfielder Charles and forward Vitinho left the field for the entries of Rodrigo Garro and Allan, respectively. At 24 minutes, right-back William crossed, with a deflection, and the ball almost surprised Hugo Souza, generating a corner.

On the corner, the Corinthians defense cleared. In the following minutes, Arroyo crossed, Corinthians cleared poorly, and Kaiki, at the edge of the area, shot poorly over the goal line. At 30 minutes, the last change for Alvinegro: forward Memphis Depay was activated and came in place of Pedro Raul. Four minutes later, Cruzeiro made a mistake in ball exit with William, André Luiz stole the ball and was fouled. Number 12, therefore, was sent off, and thus, the Parque São Jorge club now had one more on the field.

At 35 minutes, Corinthians tied the game! Midfielder Rodrigo Garro took a corner from the left and defender João Pedro Tchoca rose and headed firmly to tie the game! Score: Cruzeiro 1 x 1 Corinthians. The goal came right after Alvinegro stole the ball in the offensive field and managed a corner with number 8.

At 40 minutes, coach Dorival Júnior was sent off after complaining about Rodrigo Garro's foul on Matheus Pereira in the midfield. Heading into the final stretch of the match, Cruzeiro remained superior in the match, but Corinthians' performance improved after the entry of starters like André Luiz and Memphis Depay.

Subsequently, even though offside, almost a turnaround for Corinthians. André Luiz activated Memphis Depay in depth, number 10 chipped over Cássio, and Pedro Milans almost completed into the net! Then, Alvinegro stole the ball in the midfield, Fabrizio Angileri was activated on the left wing and crossed to André Carrilo, who headed over the goal!

When the clock hit 45 minutes, six minutes were added. In the first minute of added time, Alvinegro committed a foul in the midfield on the right. On the free-kick, Matheus Pereira took it tightly, dangerously towards goalkeeper Hugo Souza's goal. The Parque São Jorge club threatened again on the left side. Angileri crossed and Memphis Depay ended up losing the contest with Cássio.

At 49, Arroyo received on the right wing, passed Dieguinho and Angileri, and shot firmly at João Pedro Tchoca. In the last move, Dieguinho almost won the contest with Cássio, face to face, but the foul was called on number 12. At 52, after an additional minute, the end of the match. Score: Cruzeiro 1 x 1 Corinthians.

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