Debutant scores as Cruzeiro beat Mirassol, close in on Brasileiro top 5 | OneFootball

With Mineirão once again packed with fans, Cruzeiro responded in the second half and beat Mirassol 3-1 on Sunday morning (9), in the 22nd round of the Brazilian Championship. The team in blue had taken the lead in the first half, conceded the equalizer from a penalty, but found the strength to regain control of the match after the break.

João Marcelo scored Raposa’s first goal, while Reinaldo leveled things for the visitors. In the second half, Kaio Jorge, with a stunning goal, put Cruzeiro back in front, and Wesley, making his debut for the club, scored the third to seal the victory at the Giant of Pampulha.

With the result, Cruzeiro reached 33 points and temporarily moved into fifth place in the Brasileirão. The team still depended on the results of Bahia and Red Bull Bragantino, who were set to play later, to find out whether they would finish the round inside the top five.

MATCH SUMMARY

Cruzeiro started by trying to control the game and found the net as early as the 12th minute. After a throw-in, the ball stayed alive inside the box, and João Marcelo appeared on the right side to finish and put Raposa ahead.

Mirassol, however, did not take long to respond. In the 21st minute, the ball touched Lucas Romero’s arm inside the box, and the play was reviewed by VAR. After the review, the referee confirmed the penalty for the visitors.

Reinaldo stepped up in the 27th minute and made no mistake. The full-back struck it with his left foot and leveled the score at Mineirão.

After the equalizer, Cruzeiro kept pushing forward but struggled to turn their territorial dominance into more clear chances. The first half also featured a stoppage for medical treatment to Keny Arroyo and a hydration break, with the opening period ending tied at 1-1.

Cruzeiro changes after the break

Artur Jorge made changes during the second half to increase the team’s attacking power. Kaio Jorge, Wesley, João Costa, and Lucas Silva were given more space as the half went on, and the substitutions helped Cruzeiro regain intensity in attack.

In the 22nd minute, Kaio Jorge came on for Matheus Pereira. Shortly after, the No. 19 once again showed why he is the team’s leading scorer this season.

In the 31st minute, Kaio received the ball inside the box after a pass from Fagner, lifted it over his marker and then finished with his left foot to score a beautiful goal and put Cruzeiro back in front.

The goal gave the team in blue more composure, and they began to find spaces to attack. Mirassol tried to respond but could not turn their moves forward into another equalizer.

In the 39th minute, it was Wesley’s turn to make his mark. In his debut for Cruzeiro, the forward received the ball on the left, got past his marker, and finished with his right foot, giving goalkeeper Thomazella no chance. The goal confirmed the 3-1 win and sent the fans at Mineirão into celebration.

In the closing minutes, Mirassol still tried to cut the deficit and had a few shots from outside the box, but Cruzeiro’s defense held firm until the final whistle.

What’s next

Cruzeiro now completely shifts its focus and turns its attention to the Copa Libertadores. Next Wednesday (12), the team hosts Flamengo at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at Mineirão, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the continental competition.

After that, Raposa returns to Brazilian Championship action on Sunday (16), at 7:30 p.m., when they visit Corinthians at Neo Química Arena in the 23rd round.

Match details

Cruzeiro 3-1 Mirassol

Competition: Brazilian Championship – Round 22Date: August 9, 2026 (Sunday)Time: 11 a.m. (Brasília time)Venue: Mineirão, in Belo Horizonte (MG)

Goals: João Marcelo, 12’ 1H; Reinaldo, 27’ 1H; Kaio Jorge, 31’ 2H; Wesley, 39’ 2H.

Cruzeiro: Otávio; Fagner, João Marcelo, Jonathan Jesus and Lucas Villalba (Gabriel Rojas, 45’ 2H); Lucas Romero, Zé Lucas (Lucas Silva, 14’ 2H) and Matheus Pereira (Kaio Jorge, 22’ 2H); Keny Arroyo (João Costa, 14’ 2H), Kaique Kenji (Wesley, 15’ 2H) and Bruno Rodrigues. Coach: Artur Jorge.

Mirassol: Thomazella; Elias, João Victor, Gabriel Knesowitsch and Reinaldo; Denilson (Shaylon, 14’ 2H), Wallisson, Eduardo (Edson Carioca, 24’ 2H) and Gustavo Cazonatti; Fernandinho and Bruno Santos (André Luís, 24’ 2H). Coach: Rafael Guanaes.

Yellow cards: Gerson and Kaique Kenji (Cruzeiro); Elias and Shaylon (Mirassol).

Referee: Lucas Casagrande (PR).Assistants: Thiago Henrique Neto Correa Farinha (RJ) and Rafael Trombeta (PR).VAR: Caio Max Augusto Vieira (GO).

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