Cruzeiro holds pressure at the end, beats Chapecoense and takes a breather in the Brasileirão
Cruzeiro defeated Chapecoense 2-1 this Sunday (24), in a match valid for the 17th round of the Brasileirão. The result took the team from Minas Gerais to 23 points and ninth place in the league table.
Kaio Jorge and Luis Sinisterra were the scorers of Raposa's winning goals, their sixth in the national tournament. Kaio scored his 12th goal of the season, while the Colombian found the net for the first time since November last year. João Paulo cashed in on the Santa Catarina side.
After the positive result, Cruzeiro returns to the pitch next Thursday (28), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), when they host Barcelona de Guayaquil, from Ecuador, in the Libertadores. The club led by coach Artur Jorge depends only on themselves to confirm their place in the knockout stages.
Chape, on the other hand, remains at the bottom of the Brazilian Championship, with nine points gained in 16 matches. The team enters the field on Wednesday (27th), at 7pm, to compete in the semi-final of the South-Southeast Cup, against Novorizontino.
About the match
The first good opportunity of the game came in the eighth minute, with a shot from Cruzeiro striker Kenji, who stopped at goalkeeper Anderson. Then, at 16, left-back Kaiki Bruno took a risk from the edge of the area and sent it out.
At the 25-minute mark, midfielder Matheus Pereira was brought down in the area by midfielder Rafael Carvalheira and the referee awarded the penalty in favor of the Minas Gerais team. From the kick, center forward Kaio Jorge scored to open the scoring.
Soon after, at 34, full-back Kauã Moraes went to the baseline and crossed to striker Luis Sinisterra, who hit hard to find the net. However, the goal was disallowed due to a foul at the origin of the play, committed by Kauã on Chapecoense striker Marcinho.
Before the end of the first half, Kenji missed the chance to score Raposa's second goal. In stoppage time, he received a good pass from Kaio Jorge, crossed the ball and forced Anderson to make a good save.
On the way back from the break, Cruzeiro began to face danger with Sinisterra, who finished for a great save from Anderson. He himself had another opportunity in the 28th minute, but he shot over the opponent's goal.
However, in the next move, Kaio opened the ball to midfielder Christian, who rolled for Sinisterra to increase the difference to 2-0. Chape reacted with defender João Paulo, who scored with a header after a great cross from full-back Bruno Pacheco.
The visitors almost equalized in the final stretch of the game. After a wrong ball from the home defense, striker Yannick Bolasie received it inside the area and put the ball in the net. However, midfielder Jean Carlos, who was offside in the play, takes part in the play and the goal is disallowed by the referee.
Afterwards, Bolasie and midfielder Higor Meritão tried to shoot in the area, but were stopped by great saves from goalkeeper Otávio. Chapecoense almost had a penalty in their favor, a call that was canceled due to an offside in the play.
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Source: CNN