31 Shots and a 2-1 Win: Santos Hold Off Cruzeiro

Santos take control before late Cruzeiro response

Santos defeated Cruzeiro 2-1 at Estadio Urbano Caldeira in Serie A’s 27th regular-season round. The hosts led 2-0 at half-time after an early period of pressure and held on despite a late goal from Matheus Pereira.

Cuca’s Santos lined up in a 3-4-2-1, while Artur Jorge set Cruzeiro up in a 4-2-3-1. Santos opened the scoring in the 28th minute when Benjamín Rollheiser found the net with a normal goal. Four minutes later, Cruzeiro’s Fabrício Bruno put through his own goal, giving Santos a two-goal advantage before the interval.

Santos create the greater volume

The statistics showed Santos as the more aggressive side. They recorded 31 shots to Cruzeiro’s nine, including 14 attempts from inside the box and nine on target. Cruzeiro managed eight shots inside the box and four on target. Santos also earned 13 corners to Cruzeiro’s three and completed 437 accurate passes, compared with 394 for the visitors.

Possession was relatively even, with Santos holding 52% and Cruzeiro 48%. The shot count therefore made the final scoreline look closer than the overall attacking output suggested. Cruzeiro goalkeeper Otávio Eleodoro Rezende Costa made eight saves, helping keep the visitors within reach, while Santos had two goalkeeper saves.

Late goal gives Cruzeiro hope

Cruzeiro reduced the deficit in the 90th minute. Luciano Rodríguez supplied the assist for Matheus Pereira, who scored with a normal goal. The response came too late to change the result, and Santos completed the match without a red card. Pereira finished with two shots on target and one key pass.

Discipline increased as the match progressed. Kaio Jorge was booked for Cruzeiro at 45 minutes, followed by Santos’ Everton in the 65th minute and João Marcelo in the 79th. Gabriel Brazão received Santos’ second yellow card in the 82nd minute, while Fabrício Bruno was booked in the 90th.

Rollheiser leads Santos performance

B. Rollheiser was Santos’ standout performer, earning an 8.2 rating before being replaced after 74 minutes. His goal was supported by five key passes, and he also recorded one shot on target and two tackles. Santos made further changes in the second half, including the introductions of Christian Oliva, Vinicius Moreira de Lima and Arthur Melo.

The victory moves Santos to 35 points from 26 matches, while Cruzeiro remain on 42 points from 27. Santos had entered the game ranked 13th and Cruzeiro sixth in the Serie A table; the result gives the hosts a positive result after their latest listed loss, while Cruzeiro follow their latest listed loss with another defeat.