Fortaleza beats Cruzeiro, goes on a seventh unbeaten run, and is in 3rd place

This Monday (5), the cruise received, at the stadium Kleber Andrade (ES), the Strength for the last match of the 21st round of the Brazilian Championship 2024. The very busy first half guaranteed the Lion’s seventh unbeaten game and third place for the northeastern club.

Just 8 minutes in, Fortaleza took advantage of a bad clearance by Raposa to open the scoring. Marine stole the ball and threw it Breno Lopesex-Cruzeiro, who kicked with his left foot into the corner of Cassio. The ball even kissed the crossbar before ending up in the net.

As an immediate response, Cruzeiro began to show more offensiveness and, with a beautiful goal from Matheus Henriqueequalized the match. The number 97 took advantage of the tricolor defense’s indecision to grab a rebound and shoot into the corner.

Matheus Henrique almost scored the second, but the ball went too close to the goal. Raposa almost turned it around with Williambut the goalkeeper John Ricardo saved the Lion. Fortaleza took advantage of the chance it had at the end of the half to get ahead again. A rehearsed play in a free kick culminated in Bruno Pacheco entering the area from the left and crossing low. The striker Renato Kayzer First he kicked the ball over the defense, but the ball bounced back and he didn’t waste it.

The second half was not as exciting as the first. Tricolor had a chance to extend their lead with Marinho, but could not kill the game. Cruzeiro pressed, but did not threaten as much. Arthur Gomes almost tied the game with a beautiful shot that went over the goalkeeper’s corner. In the final smother, Barreal almost equalized, but hit the crossbar with everything. With no time for anything else, Leão handed Cruzeiro its first defeat as home team. Check out some facts about the match:

• Ball possession: Cruzeiro 62.7% x 37.3% Fortaleza
• Finishes (correct): Cruzeiro 15 (8); Fortaleza 11 (4)
• Fouls committed: Cruzeiro 18 x 17 Fortaleza
• Successful passes (%): Cruzeiro 512 (92.4%); Fortaleza 196 (83.8%)

With the victory, Fortaleza moves up to third place and is just one point behind the runner-up. Flamengo. Cruzeiro, on the other hand, lost its chance to enter the G-4, and remains in 5th place.

In the next round, Fortaleza will host Criciumaat Arena Castelaowhile Cruzeiro prepares for the great Minas Gerais derby against Atletico-MG. As both clubs are not in the Brazil’s Cupthey will have a full week for training.