Author: Vishwajit Sawant
In an electrifying match at the Mineirão, Cruzeiro’s U-20 team marked their name in the history books by winning the first edition of the U-20 Brazil Cup, beating Gremio 2-0 in a thrilling contest. It was a remarkable achievement for Cruzeiro’s young talents, who demonstrated their prowess on the pitch.
The name on everyone’s lips was Fernando, the team’s top scorer this season with an impressive 26 goals. In the decisive final match, Fernando was the hero with two spectacular goals, securing the unprecedented title for Raposa. His first goal came in the 24th minute, showing his determination by seizing the opportunity and forcing a fantastic save from Gremio goalkeeper Cássio. Calmly, Fernando was quick to put the rebound firmly into the net.
But he hadn’t finished yet. Thirty minutes into the second half, Fernando made his presence felt again. João Pedro’s clever steal from the Gremio defense paved the way for Fernando, who showed his precision by putting the ball in the net to extend Cruzeiro’s lead.
Although Grêmio made a valiant effort to recover and managed to score through Zé Guilherme, the goal was disallowed after a thorough analysis by the video referee. The team from Minas Gerais held on to their lead until the final whistle and celebrated winning the U-20 Brazil Cup.
Cruzeiro’s journey to this memorable victory was marked by impressive performances throughout the tournament. The team started with a resounding 4-0 win against Ceilândia-DF and progressed without any major problems. The team continued to shine, winning in a classic duel against América-MG with a 2-0 scoreline in both matches.
In the quarter-finals, they faced Sampaio Corrêa-MA, with a draw in the first leg followed by a 2-0 win in the second leg. In the semi-finals, Cruzeiro had a thrilling encounter against Fluminense and secured their place in the final with an impressive 2-2 draw in Sete Lagoas.
Finally, Cruzeiro’s young talents proved their worth in the final match, beating Gremio to win an unprecedented title. The U-20 Brazil Cup was adorned with a triple threat of scorers, including Grêmio’s Nathan Fernandes, who scored five goals during the competition, alongside Fluminense’s Arthur and Remo’s Vinícius Kanu.