Palmeiras beat Cruzeiro 2-1, on Wednesday night (04/12), in the 37th round of the Brazilian Championship. Matheus Pereira scored for Raposa, while Maurício and Estevão, with a great goal, scored for Verdão.
With the victory, Alviverde continues to have a mathematical chance of winning the title, as it is three behind Botafogo with one round to be played. If Verdão wins and Glorioso loses to São Paulo, Palmeiras will win the Brasileirão.
Now, Verdão returns to the field on Sunday (08/12), against Fluminense, at home, at 4pm, in the last round of the Brazilian Championship. Cruzeiro faces Juventude, also on Sunday, at the same time, away from home.
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How was Cruzeiro x Palmeiras?
Needing a victory, Palmeiras went after Cruzeiro at the beginning of the game, even though they were playing away from home. After four minutes, Estevão arrived on the right, cleared Marlon and sent Cássio into the right corner. The goalkeeper held on tight. At eight, Felipe Anderson received the ball in the area, cut the marking and shot out.
Verdão continued on top. At 12, Flaco López received the ball at the edge of the area, pulled it into the middle and hit it over the goal. Cruzeiro had a great chance in the 22nd minute. William advanced quickly down the right and passed the ball to Lautaro Díaz. The attacker won the race from the defenders and touched the path of Weverton, who saved.
Shortly afterwards, another chance for Palmeira. At 24, Vanderlan launched the ball into the penalty area. Veiga tried the kick, but caught it badly. The ball fell to Felipe Anderson still in the penalty area, who shot and forced Cássio to make a great save. Three minutes later, Cruzeiro’s goalkeeper appeared again, saving a shot from Palmeiras’ number nine.
It only gave Palmeiras. At 32, Richard Ríos hit from outside the area and Cássio again saved Cruzeiro. Four minutes later, it was Estevão’s turn to arrive in the area and again the Raposa goalkeeper saved.
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The second stage started differently, with Cruzeiro opening the score. At six minutes, Marlon launched a counterattack on the left, played it into the middle of the area, and Matheus Pereira sent it into the corner, countering Weverton to score.
Behind the scoreboard, Palmeiras needed victory more than ever and went all out. At 11, Veiga hit Mascado from outside the area and the ball went out. With so much pressure, Verdão equalized after 15 minutes. Richard Rios made a good move on the right, passed three markers and scored with Estevão, who played for Maurício to hit the edge of the area and beat Cássio.
From then on, Alviverde started to press again as they did in the first half. With 31 minutes, Richard Rios cleared Matheus Pereira at the edge of the area and risked a shot. The ball went over Cássio’s goal. A minute later, Estevão made a good move on the right, dribbled past Zé Ivaldo and rolled the ball towards Maurício. The midfielder took a risk from the edge of the area, but the ball went over the goal.
Cruzeiro responded at 35. Marlon advanced from the left, passed Murilo, beat Vitor Reis in the race and took a risk from the edge of the area. The ball deflected off the defender and forced Weverton to throw a corner.
Until Estevão’s star shone. At 44, Estevão took a masterful free kick, from Cássio’s corner, to score the winning goal.
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Cruzeiro x Palmeiras goals
At six minutes, Marlon launched a counterattack on the left, played it into the middle of the area, and Matheus Pereira sent it into the corner, countering Weverton to score.
With 15 minutes, Richard Rios made a good move on the right, passed three markers and scored with Estevão, who played for Maurício to hit the edge of the area and beat Cássio.
At 44, Estevão took a masterful free kick, from Cássio’s corner, to score the winning goal.
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Cruzeiro x Palmeiras lineups
Cruise: Cássio, William, João Marcelo, Zé Ivaldo and Marlon; Lucas Silva, Ramiro, Japa (Peralta, at 21’/2nd Q) and Matheus Pereira (Vitinho, at 41’/2nd Q); Gabriel Veron (Kaique Kenji, at 41’/2nd Q) and Lautaro Díaz (Tevis, at 38’/2nd Q). Technical: Fernando Diniz.
Palm trees: Weverton, Giay (Mayke, at 12’/2nd Q), Murilo, Vitor Reis and Vanderlan (Caio Paulista, at 29’/2nd Q); Aníbal Moreno (Gabriel Menino/Interval), Richard Rios and Raphael Veiga (Lázaro, at 33’/2nd Q); Felipe Anderson (Maurício, at 12’/2nd Q), Estevão and Flaco López. Technical: Abel Ferreira.
Goals: Matheus Pereira (06’/2nd Q) (1-0), Maurício (15’/2nd Q) (1-1), Estevão (44’/2nd Q) (1-2)
Yellow cards: Zé Ivaldo, Marlon and Anderson (Cruzeiro)
