Nikão and Bruno Rodrigues scored to secure the triumph for Martin Varini’s side
The cruise had a good first half this Saturday, in a duel with Sponsorship, and had good impressions from some of his reinforcements, but suffered stifling moments before securing a 2-1 victory, at Pedro Alves do Nascimento. The triumph in the first official match of the season, valid for the opening round of Mineiro Championship, had goals from newcomer Nikão and Bruno Rodrigues, before Cristiano Robert reduced. The tie almost came out in the final minutes. In a hasty retirement from Lucas Oliveira, Rafael avoided an own goal and generated a direct free kick for Patrocinense, which he didn’t convert.
Cruzeiro brought 10 of their 14 reinforcements to Patrocínio, with five starting starts: Igor Formiga, Ramiro, Rafael Bilu, Nikão and Wesley. Some of them were distributed unpredictably in the line-up assembled by coach Paulo Pezzolano, who was not present at the match as he is serving a ban received in the state last year. Assistant Martin Varini was responsible for the technical command on the bench.
The multi-talented Ramiro, who has already played as a defensive midfielder, right-back and also a striker at other clubs he has played for, has been brought into the right-back position, in a three-man line-up alongside Oliveira and Eduardo Brock. Despite this, he has appeared in attack when the team has taken an attacking disposition. Forward Rafael Bilu was used as a left winger and Igor Formiga as a right; Neto Moura and Ian Luccas, who is at the club on loan from Ferroviária and was part of the under-20 squad, have been positioned to contain the midfield.
Despite having many new players on the field, Cruzeiro showed harmony and involved Patrocinense right from the start. He put pressure on the opponent’s ball and that’s where the opening goal originated, in a play that started with a steal and finished with a kick from the edge of the box by newcomer Nikão. The second goal was a penalty, converted by Bruno Rodrigues in the 16th minute, after a foul by Wesley inside the box.
The rest of the first stage was lived peacefully by the Cruzeirenses, who also saw the end of the Patrocinense, but without putting themselves in danger. The start of the second half, however, changed this scenario, as, in the seventh minute, Cristiano threw himself on the ball to complete Gabriel Galhardo’s cross and equalize the match. Declining revenue led Varini to promote more previews throughout the cruise. He traded Ramiro and Nikão for Wallisson and Mateus Vital respectively.
In his first minutes in the blue shirt, Wallisson almost scored a great goal. He played for Bidu and projected across the right side of the box. Having received back, he dominated, applied a hat to the scorer and hit the ball in the air, but goalkeeper Adilson saved. Vital also got off to a good start, but he suffered a blow to his left leg and was replaced by Daniel Junior after just over 20 minutes on the pitch. Among the reinforcements, forward Davó and defenders Neris and Reynadlo have not left the bench.
Without the attacking efficiency shown at the start, Cruzeiro still struggled in the closing minutes due to a mistake by Lucas Oliveira. In the 45th minute, the defender pulled away very hard against goalkeeper Rafael Cabral, who was ahead and ran desperately to throw himself down and save the ball from over the line.
When the goalkeeper touched the ball with his hand after a pass from his defending partner, the referee awarded an indirect free kick for a recoil. All Cruzeiro players positioned themselves inside the goal, as the free kick was taken at the top of the penalty area line and managed to prevent Rafael Furlan’s shot from entering.
DATA SHEET
SPONSORSHIP 1 X 2 CRUISE
SPONSORS – Adilson; Emerson (Lucão), Alan Ferreira, Léo Alves and Rafael Furlan; Sabino (Evair), Lucas Hulk (Gabriel Galhardo) and Daniel Costa (Marquinhos do Sul); Gleissinho, Neto Costa and Léo Santos (Cristiano). Coach: Thiago Oliveira.
CRUISE – Raffaele Cabral; Ramiro (Wallisson); Lucas Oliveira and Eduardo Brock; Igor Formiga (Wesley Gasolina), Neto Moura, Ian Luccas, Nikão (Mateus Vital, then Daniel Junior) and Rafael Bilu (Marquinhos Cipriano); Wesley and Bruno Rodríguez. Coach: (replacing Paulo Pezzolano, disqualified).
GOALS – Nikão, on seven, and Bruno Rodrigues, on 16′ of the first half.
REFEREE – Paolo Cesare Zanovelli.
YELLOW SIGNS – Lucas Hulk, Rafael Furlan and Neto Costa (Sponsor); Ramiro, Neto Moura and Nikão (Cruzeiro).
RED CARD – Thiago Oliveira.
INCOME AND PUBLIC – Unavailable.
PLACE – Pedro Alves do Nascimento Stadium, Patronage.
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Source: Terra
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
