Santos FC Clinches Third Straight Win with 2-1 Victory Over Cruzeiro

Santos FC secured their third consecutive win in the 2026 Campeonato Brasileiro by defeating Cruzeiro 2-1 at Vila Belmiro. The goals came early in the match, with Rollheiser scoring the opener at 27 minutes following rebounds from teammates Gabriel Bontempo and Everton Cebolinha. Just four minutes later, Cruzeiro’s Fabrício Bruno scored an own goal while trying to clear a cross from Rodinei, giving Santos a comfortable 2-0 lead at halftime.

Despite missing stars Neymar and Gabigol, who watched from the stands, Everton Cebolinha made a strong debut, consistently pressuring Cruzeiro’s defense. Santos dominated the first half, with key contributions from Rodinei, Bontempo, Rollheiser, and Cebolinha. Cruzeiro's goalkeeper Otávio made critical saves preventing a wider scoreline in the first half.

In the second half, Cruzeiro managed to reduce the deficit when Matheus Pereira scored late in the 44th minute, but it wasn't enough to mount a comeback. The match showcased Santos' solid defensive and offensive execution, including a vital save by goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão early in the game.

With this win, Santos rose to 10th place with 35 points in the league standings, while Cruzeiro remained in 6th place with 42 points but risks being surpassed. Santos also carries optimism into the Copa Sul-Americana after a 2-0 first-leg quarter-final win against Atlético-MG, where they can advance to the semifinals with a loss by one goal or a draw in the upcoming second leg. Cruzeiro, meanwhile, faced heavy criticism from their fans for their poor performance, labeled "bottlers" and "shameless" as the team struggled to maintain possession and momentum.