Brasileirão Série A
Cruzeiro edge Flamengo late to claim home victory in Belo Horizonte
Matheus Pereira's stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic 2-1 win for Cruzeiro over visiting Flamengo at the Governador Magalhães Pinto.
Cruzeiro secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Flamengo in Belo Horizonte, with Matheus Pereira scoring the decisive goal in the 90th minute plus five additional seconds. The win moved Cruzeiro to within striking distance of the top six, while Flamengo's lead at the top of the table was trimmed. The match saw early tension, with Fabricio Bruno and Joao Marcelo both receiving yellow cards for Cruzeiro before the hosts fell behind. Flamengo took the lead in the 22nd minute through Pedro, who capitalized on an assist from G. de Arrascaeta to give the visitors a slender advantage heading into halftime. Cruzeiro responded after the break, with K. Arroyo pulling one back in the 55th minute thanks to a pass from Matheus Henrique. The equalizer shifted momentum firmly in favor of the home side, who pressed for a winner as the clock ticked down. With just seconds remaining in stoppage time, Matheus Pereira found the net, converting a delivery from L. Villalba to spark wild celebrations among the home supporters. Flamengo had one last chance to salvage a point, but Bruno Henrique's late yellow card summed up a frustrating evening for the visitors. The result leaves Cruzeiro in fifth place with 36 points from 23 matches, while Flamengo remain second with 45 points from 22 games. Despite the loss, Flamengo's position in the topflight remains strong as they look to bounce back in their next fixture. For Cruzeiro, the win provides a timely boost in their push for a playoff spot. The atmosphere at the Governador Magalhães Pinto was electric throughout, with the home crowd rewarded for their patience in the dying moments.