Galo turn it round against Cruzeiro, into the semis

A night to remember. In a decision surrounded by tension and emotion, Galo showed resilience, character, and strength to complete a comeback in the final minutes and secure a place in the Copa do Brasil semifinal. In front of an Arena MRV buzzing from start to finish, Atlético beat Cruzeiro 2-1 in comeback fashion and made the Massa erupt on one of the most thrilling nights of the season.

The team fell behind with a penalty goal but never stopped pushing for the result. In the second half, the pressure increased, and Galo was rewarded for its persistence. Victor Hugo equalized in the 32nd minute. Then, in the 43rd, Fred stepped up to write a special chapter in his history wearing the black-and-white shirt: he received the ball from Victor Hugo and fired a beautiful shot to turn the derby around and seal qualification.

For Fred, it was an even more special night. In his first match as a starter at Arena MRV, the No. 7 scored his first professional goal for Atlético, his first in the Copa do Brasil, and also his first in a derby for Galo.

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The atmosphere at Arena MRV started building long before kickoff.

The Massa welcomed Atlético’s bus around the stadium with a huge celebration, turning the delegation’s arrival into a true corridor of fire. Hundreds of flares lit the players’ path, while chants of support followed the team all the way to the Arena entrance.

Inside the stadium, the show continued. A 3D mosaic, flags, banners, balloons, and flares took over the stands. Even Galo Doido joined the party, descending on a zipline before the derby began.

And when the ball started rolling, the Massa did its part for the full 90 minutes.

Driven on by the fans, Atlético came out at full speed and created the first chances.

Right in the opening minutes, Cassierra hit the post with a header. Cuello also found space down the right and looked dangerous. Bernard had a good chance after a move built by Galo, but Otávio made the save.

Atlético kept a presence in the attacking half and tried to build through the wings and the middle.

In the 16th minute, Ruan Tressoldi had to leave the field after feeling pain. Vitão came on in his place.

Even with the forced change, Galo kept up the intensity and continued searching for the goal.

Atlético kept looking for the goal and created good chances, but ended up conceding a penalty in the 29th minute. From the spot, Kaio Jorge put the visitors ahead.

The goal did not change Galo’s approach.

The team kept searching for the equalizer and created chances before halftime. Cassierra and Bernard both came close, but the score remained unchanged until the end of the first half.

Atlético returned for the second half still applying pressure.

The team occupied the attacking half and began circling the box even more. In the 15th minute, Villalba received his second yellow card and was sent off.

With an extra man, Galo increased its attacking output.

Eduardo Domínguez also adjusted the team’s positioning. Bernard moved more to the left side, while Kevin Castaño occupied a more central area of the field.

After the match, the coach explained the change and revealed that the decision also took into account conversations with the players themselves.

“After halftime, Bernard played more on the left and Castaño more through the middle. They told me they would feel more comfortable that way. I may have a view of what we can do, but they are the ones out on the field.”

“After halftime, Bernard played more on the left and Castaño more through the middle. They told me they would feel more comfortable that way. I may have a view of what we can do, but they are the ones out on the field.”

The adjustments helped Atlético maintain intensity and increase its presence in the attacking third. Alan Minda, Victor Hugo, and Gustavo Scarpa also came on in the second half and contributed to the comeback.

The clock kept ticking, but Galo never lowered its intensity.

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The equalizer finally came in the 32nd minute.

Fred received the ball and found Victor Hugo inside the box. The No. 30 controlled it and hit a powerful shot past Otávio.

The goal gave Atlético the chance to clinch qualification in regular time. And Galo did not slow down.

The pressure continued. Victor Hugo also hit the post, and the team kept hovering around the box.

Then the same connection that had produced the equalizer showed up again.

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In the 43rd minute, Victor Hugo found Fred at the edge of the box.

The No. 7 struck it first time, placing it into Otávio’s corner.

And a moment Fred will never forget.

In his first game as a starter at Arena MRV, in front of the Massa, the midfielder scored his first professional goal for Atlético and decided the derby that sent Galo into the Copa do Brasil semifinal.

In celebration, Arena MRV shook to its core.

“I’m very happy with everyone’s performance. Our team gave everything, played a great match, and we deserved qualification.”

“I’m very happy with everyone’s performance. Our team gave everything, played a great match, and we deserved qualification.”

His decisive involvement in both goals also summed up a night in which Galo found yet another key piece off the bench to build the comeback. Victor Hugo scored the equalizer and assisted Fred for the qualification-clinching goal.

Back on the pitch after recovering from time in the medical department, Victor Hugo came off the bench and was decisive in Atlético’s comeback.

The No. 30 scored the equalizer in the 32nd minute and, eleven minutes later, came up big again, this time as the provider. With precision, he found Fred for the comeback goal and qualification.

In the mixed zone, Victor Hugo celebrated his direct involvement in both goals on a night that marked his return to the pitch.

The player highlighted the importance of all the work done during his time in the medical department and the satisfaction of being able to repay that effort in a Copa do Brasil decider.

With qualification secured, Victor Hugo also stressed the importance of maintaining the group’s dedication and focus for the rest of the season, aiming for new achievements.

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The qualification had standout performers, but it was built by the entire squad.

Renan Lodi pointed out that Atlético’s strength had already shown even before the sending-off. For the full-back, Galo was playing well while both teams still had eleven men.

“It wasn’t just 11 against 10. We were already doing very well in the match, building play, when it was 11 against 11 too.”

“It wasn’t just 11 against 10. We were already doing very well in the match, building play, when it was 11 against 11 too.”

Lodi also highlighted the contribution of the players who came on during the match and the strength the group has been building over the past few months.

“That shows what we’ve been building as a group, the dedication, and how much we’ve believed.”

“That shows what we’ve been building as a group, the dedication, and how much we’ve believed.”

The full-back also noted that Atlético has not won anything yet, but emphasized the importance of the work being done.

The victory was Atlético’s 14th consecutive match unbeaten this season. That run includes eight wins and six draws.

Atlético’s comeback also shows up in the match statistics. Galo finished the derby with 61% possession and also had 25 shots to 13.

The dominance in build-up play was also clear. Atlético completed 554 passes with 84% accuracy, and had eight corners.

In attack, there were 25 shots, with nine on target, two off the post, and six blocked.

Galo also recorded 12 tackles to eight and finished the match with just one yellow card.

Possession: Atlético 61% x 39% Cruzeiro

Passes: Atlético 554 x 321 Cruzeiro

Pass accuracy: Atlético 84% x 72% Cruzeiro

Shots on target: Atlético 9 x 4 Cruzeiro

Shots off the post: Atlético 2 x 1 Cruzeiro

Blocked shots: Atlético 6 x 3 Cruzeiro

Goalkeeper saves: Atlético 5 x 13 Cruzeiro

Fouls committed: Atlético 14 x 13 Cruzeiro

Penalties: Atlético 0 x 1 Cruzeiro

🟨 Yellow cards: Atlético 1 x 7 Cruzeiro

🟥 Red cards: Atlético 0 x 1 Cruzeiro

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The qualification was also marked by stories of commitment even before kickoff.

Everson was doubtful for the derby because of an injury suffered in the first leg. Even so, he was in the starting lineup.

After the match, doctor Rodrigo Lasmar revealed that the goalkeeper played with a fracture in his left foot. Everson had been undergoing intensive treatment since the first meeting and received an anesthetic block to be able to train and play.

The procedure was repeated at halftime.

“A feeling of relief, joy, and gratitude to my teammates.”

“A feeling of relief, joy, and gratitude to my teammates.”

The goalkeeper also thanked the medical department, the physiotherapy staff, and his family for the work done in the days leading up to the derby.

“I’m very happy to have sacrificed myself, managed to play, and managed to help the team get through to the next round.”

“I’m very happy to have sacrificed myself, managed to play, and managed to help the team get through to the next round.”

Now Everson will need to stop activities to treat the fracture. The treatment will be conservative, with no need for surgery.

The victory sent Atlético into the Copa do Brasil semifinal and kept Galo alive in the fight for the title.

The opponent will be the winner of the tie between Grêmio and Internacional.

The semifinals are scheduled for November 1 and 8.

Before that, Galo turns its attention back to the Brasileirão. On Saturday (5), they face São Paulo at 6:30 p.m. at Morumbis, in the 26th round.

But the night of September 1 has already earned a special place in the season.

It was a night of pressure. Of trailing behind. Of adversity. Of persistence.

A night in which Galo never stopped believing.

And, in front of the Massa, came from behind in the derby, knocked out its rival, and advanced.

Competition: Copa do Brasil – Quarterfinals (second leg)📍 Venue: Arena MRV – Belo Horizonte📅 Date: September 1, 2026

⚽ Goals: Kaio Jorge (29′ 1H), Victor Hugo (32′ 2H), and Fred (43′ 2H).

Atlético: Everson; Natanael (Gustavo Scarpa), Ruan (Vitão), Vitor Hugo, Renan Lodi; Alan Franco (Alan Minda), Kevin Castaño; Bernard (Victor Hugo), Fred, Cuello; Cassierra (Reinier).Head coach: Eduardo Domínguez.

Cruzeiro: Otávio; Fagner, Fabrício Bruno, Jonathan Jesus (João Marcelo), Villalba; Lucas Romero, Gerson (Matheus Henrique), Matheus Pereira (Gabriel Rojas); Wesley (Kaique Kenji), Arroyo, Kaio Jorge (Neiser Villareal).Head coach: Artur Jorge.

🟨 Yellow cards: Natanael (Atlético); Otávio, Kaio Jorge, Villalba, Lucas Romero, Fabrício Bruno, and Arroyo (Cruzeiro).

🟥 Red card: Villalba (Cruzeiro), for a second yellow card.

Officials: Raphael Claus (SP), Danilo Ricardo Simon Manis (SP), and Victor Hugo Imazu dos Santos (PR).VAR: Rodrigo Guarizo Ferreira do Amaral (SP)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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