Cruzeiro booked their place in the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil on Tuesday night, defeating Goiás 1-0 at Mineirão in Belo Horizonte. After a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Serra Dourada on April 22, the decisive goal came from a penalty converted by Kaio Jorge, following a handball by Goiás defender Ramon Menezes.
With six Copa do Brasil titles – the most of any club – Cruzeiro now await the remaining qualified teams and the draw for the next stage. Internacional and Fluminense have also secured their spots so far. According to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) schedule, the round of 16 will take place in August, with first legs on August 1 and 2 and return legs on August 5 and 6. The final will be a single match on December 6.
**First Half**
Playing at home, Cruzeiro created several chances early on. In the 15th minute, Kaio Jorge shot low and wide. Goalkeeper Tadeu then denied Fabrício Bruno with two headers in the 19th and 26th minutes, as well as a shot from Kaiki Bruno after a fine individual run. The breakthrough came in the 30th minute when Kaio Jorge converted a penalty after Ramon Menezes handled the ball from a corner. In the 35th minute, Kauã Moraes forced a save from Tadeu with a powerful strike. Goiás responded in the 42nd minute through Jean Carlos, but his shot was saved by Otávio.
**Second Half**
Goiás pressed for an equalizer after the break. In the 13th minute, Bruno Sávio headed wide from a Caito cross, and in the 15th, Lourenço missed a header from a Nicolas delivery. Cruzeiro improved and created chances through Sinisterra, who tested Tadeu in the 19th and 20th minutes, and Matheus Pereira with a dangerous free kick in the 28th. However, Goiás dominated the closing stages: Bruno Sávio almost equalized with a header in the 33rd minute, and Esli García wasted a golden opportunity in the 39th before hitting the post with a fine strike. To make matters worse for Goiás, goalkeeper Tadeu was injured in stoppage time and had to be replaced by midfielder Filipe Machado.
**Upcoming Matches**
Cruzeiro return to action on Saturday, facing Palmeiras at Arena Crefisa Barueri in the Brazilian Serie A, where they sit 11th with 19 points. They then travel to Argentina to face Boca Juniors on Tuesday in the Copa Libertadores, holding second place in Group D with seven points, level with leaders Universidad Católica.
Goiás, meanwhile, host Botafogo de Ribeirão Preto on Saturday in the Brazilian Serie B, where they are 11th with 10 points.
