In a thrilling round of matches in the Brazilian Championship, Flamengo pulled off a dramatic comeback against Corinthians, Gremio showed clinical efficiency to beat Internacional and Cuiabá surprised Cruzeiro with a vital win that lifted them out of the relegation zone.
Flamengo beats Corinthians with late goal
Léo Pereira’s late header sealed Flamengo’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Corinthians at the Maracanã. The match was relatively uninspiring, with both teams putting in solid defensive performances. Flamengo struggled to create chances, especially without the presence of Everton Ribeiro and Arrascaeta, who didn’t play. The absence of their midfielders limited Flamengo’s attacking power, resulting in a lack of effectiveness in circulating the ball.
Corinthians, taking advantage of the space they were given, had the best chances to score. Róger Guedes was a constant threat, creating chances for his teammates, but Matheus Bidu and Yuri Alberto failed to convert their chances. The first half was uneventful until extra time, when Flamengo came to life and forced goalkeeper Cássio into some important saves.
The second half began with Corinthians pressing forward in search of a goal, but their finishing lacked precision. The pressure on Flamengo increased, causing frustration among the fans. However, in the final minutes of the game, Flamengo stepped up their efforts, persistently searching for a goal. In a display of true striker’s instinct, defender Léo Pereira ventured into the area and headed the ball into the net from a corner, securing victory for the Rubro-Negro in dramatic fashion in the 90th minute.
Flamengo’s victory moved them up to 6th place in the Campeonato Brasileiro standings, with 12 points. Meanwhile, Corinthians remained in the relegation zone with just 5 points. The two teams will now focus on the Copa Libertadores matches scheduled for midweek, with the aim of continuing their campaign in South America’s premier club competition.
Grêmio shows clinical efficiency to beat Internacional
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Grêmio showed clinical efficiency to beat Internacional in a thrilling Gre-Nal clash at the Arena. In the 439th meeting between the two rivals, Gremio employed a strategy focused on quick counter-attacks and precise finishing, which proved fatal for the hosts, who secured an imposing 3-1 victory.
The result added to the growing instability surrounding Mano Menezes’ tenure at Internacional, as well as pushing Grêmio down to 10th place with 11 points in the Campeonato Brasileiro standings. Internacional, on the other hand, dropped to 15th place with seven points.
In a fast-paced game, with both teams intent on attacking, it was Grêmio who opened the scoring. Uruguayan striker Luiz Suárez scored from distance, beating goalkeeper Keiller with a well-placed shot to give Grêmio the lead after eight minutes.
Despite having more possession and adopting a proactive approach, Internacional struggled to break through Grêmio’s resolute defense. The home side faced strong marking and struggled to create significant chances.
Gremio extended their lead through Villasanti, who took advantage of his more assertive approach and won two disputes before calmly slotting the ball past Keiller. The goal in the 32nd minute ignited the crowd at the Arena and further solidified Gremio’s control of the match.
In the second half, Gremio continued to execute their game plan, dropping back and exploiting the spaces left by Internacional’s attacking approach. However, his task became even more challenging when Kannemann received his second yellow card and was sent off in the 53rd minute.
Despite being down to ten men, Gremio remained organized and managed to attack again. Bitello fired a powerful shot past Keiller to increase Grêmio’s lead to 3-0 in the 66th minute. As the match entered its final stages, Internacional tried to salvage some pride. Johnny headed into the net from a corner in the 87th minute, scoring a consolation goal for Internacional, but it wasn’t enough to turn the game around.
Grêmio’s efficient display secured a significant victory in the Porto Alegre derby, leaving Internacional with a lot to reflect on.
Cuiabá surprises Cruzeiro and escapes relegation zone with vital win
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Cruzeiro had all the advantages in their favor when they faced Cuiabá in a highly anticipated match at home on Monday night. With the support of the fans, a series of solid performances in recent games and an opponent fighting against the relegation zone, the stage was set for a favorable result. However, Cruzeiro failed to deliver and were beaten 1-0 with a goal from Deyverson in the 37th minute, wasting the opportunity to move up to the top flight of the Brazilian Championship.
It was a lacklustre performance from Pepa’s side, who failed to impose themselves on the game and even squandered chances with their star-studded attack. Despite the defeat, Cruzeiro remain in fifth place with 12 points, just one point behind rivals Atlético-MG, who are in fourth place. On the other hand, the win was crucial for Cuiabá, lifting them out of the relegation zone and into 14th place with seven points.
Cruzeiro’s midfield needed coherence, with the presence of three defensive midfielders who failed to provide the creativity and link-up play needed. This was reflected in their attacking attempts, where several chances were created but ultimately squandered.
Despite the setback, the Blues’ coach showed little daring in his substitutions, making only routine changes and opting for a more attacking approach by introducing Henrique Dourado and Gilberto at the same time. However, it was Deyverson’s goal that made the difference for Cuiabá, lifting them out of the relegation zone.
Cruzeiro will have a challenging match against Flamengo on Saturday, May 27, at the Maracanã. Meanwhile, Cuiabá will host Coritiba on the same day and time as the Cruzeiro game, aiming to build on their recent win.