Corinthians Ends Decade-Long Winless Streak with Crucial Copa do Brasil Semifinal Victory at Mineirão
Corinthians defeat Cruzeiro 1-0 at Mineirão, ending a decade-long away winless streak in the Copa do Brasil semifinal first leg.
- • Corinthians won 1-0 against Cruzeiro at Mineirão in the Copa do Brasil semifinal first leg.
- • Memphis Depay scored the decisive goal in the 21st-22nd minute.
- • This victory ended a ten-year away winless streak for Corinthians at Mineirão against Cruzeiro.
- • Yuri Alberto was substituted due to pain linked to a recent injury during the match.
- • The second leg is scheduled for Sunday at Neo Química Arena, where Corinthians advances with a draw.
Key details
Corinthians secured a historic and vital 1-0 victory over Cruzeiro in the first leg of the 2025 Copa do Brasil semifinal held at Mineirão, breaking a ten-year away winless streak at this iconic stadium. The match, witnessed by 59,052 spectators, saw Dutch striker Memphis Depay score the decisive goal in the 21st-22nd minute.
The goal unfolded after a skillful play where midfielder Carillo crossed to Yuri Alberto, whose header was initially blocked by defender Fabrício Bruno. Depay then capitalized on the rebound to score. Despite the fierce pressure from Cruzeiro in the second half, Corinthians maintained tactical discipline to preserve their lead.
During the match, Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto had to be substituted in the 65th minute due to pain, linked to a recent recovery from a pubic symphysis edema and muscle overload. He was replaced by Vitinho after being taken off the field on a stretcher.
This victory holds significant historical value, marking Corinthians’ first win away at Cruzeiro’s Mineirão stadium since May 10, 2015 — a match that also ended 1-0 in their favor and secured the Brazilian Championship title that year. Since then, Corinthians had failed to win in nine away matches against Cruzeiro, suffering six losses and three draws.
The return leg of the semifinal is scheduled for Sunday at 6 PM at Neo Química Arena, where Corinthians will have the advantage of advancing with a draw on aggregate, potentially leading to a penalty shootout. The winner between Corinthians and Cruzeiro will face either Vasco or Fluminense, who are contesting the other semifinal.
In related news, Palmeiras clinched their first Copa do Brasil Feminina title by defeating Ferroviária 4-2 at the Arena Fonte Luminosa, showcasing the growing prominence of women's football in Brazil.
Corinthians’ away victory not only boosts their morale but also resets the semifinal dynamics as they approach the decisive home leg, aiming for a place in the Copa do Brasil final.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.