It was mostly a dull game. Few chances created for goals, lack of creativity in attack, and excessive heat and quite counter attacking football marked the victory for the game played at the Arena Pantanal. The only goal of the game came in the final minutes of the match, after the counter attack by Dourado.
Cuiabá and Cruzeiro had a full 45 minutes without creativity and great goal scoring chances.
With the weather somewhat hot over 30 degrees, the game pace was slow.
Minas Gerais team’s best opportunity to put the ball in the net came at the beginning of the match, with Sassá displacing a cross from the left side outside the goal area. Cuiabá, on the other hand, only had to be defensively intact to prevent Jenison’s header after Elvis’ cross at the end of the first half.
In the second half, Chamusca returned to the field with Elton replacing Jenison. Ney Franco made changes right at the start of the second period, with Marcelo Moreno and Rafael Luiz coming in for Maurício and Régis.
With the changes, Cruzeiro managed to improve a little with more speed, but without links between both the midfield and the forwards. With little creativity in the middle, the forwards had to fall back in search of the ball frequently to be in the game.
Cuiabá barely managed to reach Fábio’s goal. The home team, however, were accurate in the final minute. In what was the only real chance after a perfect counter attack, Filipe Marques managed to put in a header for the winning goal.
Cuiabá visits Caxias do Sul to face Juventude. Cruzeiro will play against Sampaio Corrêa in Mineirão, on Thursday.
