In a dramatic setback, Flamengo suffered a stoppage-time turnaround against Cruzeiro, losing 2-1 away from home in the 25th round of the Brazilian Serie A.
Flamengo faced Cruzeiro last Saturday (22nd) at the Mineirão in a match valid for the 25th round of the Brazilian Serie A. Despite taking the lead with a goal from Pedro, the Rubro-Negro could not hold onto the advantage and was overtaken by the Raposa, who secured the win in the final moments of the game, ending with a 2-1 scoreline.
The result represents a heavy blow to the Mais Querido‘s ambitions in the national competition at a crucial moment of the season. The away defeat leaves manager Leonardo Jardim‘s team in need of a quick recovery before their next commitment.
Early dominance and Pedro’s goal
The start of the match at the Mineirão was marked by an offensive approach from Flamengo. The Rio-based side pressured from the opening minutes, creating several goal-scoring opportunities. Early on, Samuel Lino and Arrascaeta set up a dangerous play that saw Carrascal fire a shot that grazed the crossbar. Their control of possession and intensity in the attack were rewarded at the 22-minute mark when Pedro opened the scoring following a quick counter-attack. The number 9 received the ball from Arrascaeta, dribbled past his marker, and struck a cross-shot to give Flamengo a 1-0 lead.
The goal marked Pedro‘s 25th of the season and his 177th in a Flamengo jersey, cementing his excellent run of form. Arrascaeta, meanwhile, recorded his fourth assist of 2026 and his 113th for Mais Querido, confirming his importance in the team’s attacking build-up. Despite trailing, Cruzeiro intensified their search for an equalizer, but the organized Flamengo defense held the scoreline until halftime.
The Raposa’s thrilling comeback
In the second half, Flamengo continued to look for a second goal, but Cruzeiro showed more urgency in their reaction. Nine minutes after the break, Arroyo fired a precise shot from the right to find the back of the net and level the score at the Mineirão, leaving the game wide open. Manager Leonardo Jardim‘s side tried to regain the lead, and substitutions like the introduction of Bruno Henrique provided fresh energy, leading to new scoring chances.
However, the late pressure exerted by Cruzeiro proved decisive. In a dramatic conclusion, in the 49th minute of stoppage time, Matheus Pereira scored the winning goal for the home side, sealing the Raposa‘s 2-1 victory. The turnaround in the final play of the match left Flamengo empty-handed in the 25th round of the Brazilian Serie A, an unexpected result after having led for much of the game.
Match details and next steps
The clash between Cruzeiro and Flamengo was played at the Mineirão on August 22, 2026, with Rodrigo José Pereira de Lima (PE) officiating. The teams started with their best lineups: Cruzeiro, led by Artur Jorge, and Flamengo, managed by Leonardo Jardim, who fielded Rossi, Varela, Léo Ortiz, Danilo, Ayrton Lucas, Erick Pulgar, Lucas Paquetá, Jorginho, Carrascal, Samuel Lino, and Pedro.
Following this setback, Flamengo faces a new challenge on the horizon. The Rubro-Negro returns to action next Sunday, August 30, at 4:00 PM for a pivotal derby against Botafogo. The match, valid for the 26th round of the Brazilian Serie A, will be played at the Maracanã, where the team will look for an immediate response and the three points to stay firmly in the hunt for the national title.
Equipe M360
