The team hit the post in the first half, but slowed down in the closing stages. Matheus Pereira avoids expulsion with capital bid
November 9th
2025
– 6:07 p.m.
(Updated at 6:38 p.m.)
This Sunday (09/11), Cruzeiro and Fluminense drew 0-0 in Matchday 33 of Brasileilon, held in a packed Mineiron stadium. The game was divided into two halves, and the opening half was a busy one, with some clear and controversial chances. As a result, Cruzeiro are virtually guaranteed to qualify for the Libertadores with 64 points, maintaining their long unbeaten record (currently 8 matches). Fluminense, on the other hand, only had 51 points (7th place) and lost their chance to make it to G6.
However, the match was hit by a major refereeing controversy at the end of the first half. Cruzeiro midfielder Matheus Pereira, who had already received a yellow card, punched Fluminense’s Bernal in the face. VAR summoned referee Rodrigo Jose Pereira de Lima to reconsider the move, but the referee inexplicably chose not to issue a second yellow card, sparking anger from the tricolor players.
mischief, controversy, rebellion
Fluminense started the match with an overwhelming start. Serna stopped Casio in the first minute. Lucho Acosta then fired a long shot, forcing Cruzeiro’s goalkeeper to work again. But little by little, the home team balanced their actions. Then Cruzeiro started to react as well. In the 17th minute, Caio Jorge scored, and Arroyo almost scored from a deflection. The 36-year-old Kaiki hit Fabio’s post after a deflection from the goalkeeper.
In fact, the last section of the first stage was the hottest. In the 44th minute, it was Fluminense’s turn. Hercules hit Cassio’s crossbar. Shortly after, a huge controversy broke out in stoppage time. Matheus Pereira, who had already received a yellow card, punched Bernal in the face. VAR asked Rodrigo José Pereira de Lima to review the move, but the referee inexplicably upheld the on-field decision and did not issue a second yellow card, leaving the Tricolor team furious at half-time.
Rodrigo Jose Pereira de Lima made the biggest mistake of the Brazilian Championship.
Matheus Pereira already had a yellow. He didn’t do anything on the field. This is DIRECT RED, and even if you look at it again, you won’t even get a yellow, and Cruzeiro will probably give you 10 points. pic.twitter.com/weDrG1uzt5
— Gabriel Amaral (@gabrielamaralll) November 9, 2025
The pace slows down and the game becomes uninteresting.
In the second half, there was no repeat of the good soccer they played in the beginning. Fluminense lost Bernal (injured) due to the introduction of Nonato, and the match was called off. The heated atmosphere in the first half turned into fouls and lack of creativity. The biggest “highlight” was the 10th minute when Arroyo and Canobbio collided, but nothing great happened.
Cruzeiro had the advantage of not having No. 10 sent off, but they were unable to impose this on themselves. Manager Leonardo Jardim tried to change up his team by adding Gabi and Sinisterra, while Sverdia added Kino and Soteldo. But the replacement had no effect. The game continued to be lethargic, with a rare chance like a rocket to the outside from Christian. In the end, a counter-attack in the 46th minute, with Sinisterra still in control of the game, ended and they won 0-0.
Cruzeiro 0x0 Fluminense
Brazil Championship Series A – Round 33
date:
September 11, 2025
position: Mineiron, Belo Horizonte (MG)
Audience present: 53,283
income: R$ 2,940,491.50
cruise: Casio. William (Cowan Moraes, 37 minutes/2nd quarter), Fabricio Bruno, Villalba, Kaiki. Lucas Romero, Eduardo (Wallace, 38 minutes/2Q), Cristian (Sinisterra, 38 minutes/2Q), Matheus Pereira. Arroyo (Gabi, 22 minutes/2nd quarter) and Caio Jorge. technical: Leonardo Jardim.
Fluminense: Fabio; Samuel Xavier, Thiago Silva, Fretes, Rene. F. Bernal (Nonato, Interval), Hércules (Otavio, 39’/2°Q), Lucho Acosta (Lima, 39’/2°Q). A. Canobbio (Kino, 26’/2ndQ), Kevin Serna (Soteldo, 19’/2ndQ), Everardo (John Kennedy, 27’/2ndQ). technical: Luis Sverdia.
Arbitrator: Rodrigo Jose Pereira de Lima (PE)
assistant: Leila Nyara Moreira da Cruz (DF) and Francisco Chávez Bezerra Junior (PE)
VAR: Wagner Liway (SC)
Yellow card: Fabricio Bruno, Lucas Romero, Wallace (CRU). Bernal, Canobbio (FLU).
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