Santa Cruz FC 1:0 Floresta: Serie C Match Result

Match report

Santos Cruz edged past Floresta 1:0 in the Second Stage - 3 of Brazil's Serie C on 20 September, a result that keeps both sides within touching distance at the top of the table. The hosts moved ahead after Renato's goal in the eleventh minute and held on through a match where the visitors never quite found their rhythm.

And here's the thing — the decisive moment came early, and Floresta spent the rest of the game chasing. Renato's finish in the first half gave Santos Cruz the cushion they needed, and what followed was a contest where the visitors had more possession but couldn't convert it into clear chances. By then, the visitors had already camped in the final third but kept coming for crosses they never quite reached.

The statistics tell a story of control without penetration. Floresta enjoyed 54 per cent of possession and registered 82 attacks compared to 67, yet Santos Cruz's two shots on target proved more decisive than the visitors' four. Our prediction of a home victory carried 38 per cent confidence, and the result vindicated that call — not because the hosts dominated, but because they took their only real opportunity.

Substitutions came thick and fast after the hour mark, with six changes in the final twenty minutes alone. Eliandro and Rafinha went off together at 61, while Santos Cruz brought on three players at 72, including Renato himself, who had opened the scoring. Both managers seemed to be looking for something different, though neither side could find a breakthrough.

At the other end of the table, the gap between fifth and eighth remains razor-thin. Floresta sit on 30 points from 19 matches, one ahead of Santos Cruz on 29, and this result means the visitors will have to work harder in the remaining fixtures. The recent form of both sides — Santos Cruz unbeaten in five, Floresta with three wins and two losses — suggests the race is far from over.

Prepared from match data

Key numbers

Possession, % 46 – 54

Shots on target 2 – 4

Shots off target 9 – 9

Attacks 67 – 82

⚽ 11' Renato — Goal ⇄ 61' Eliandro — Substitution ⇄ 61' Rafinha — Substitution ⇄ 66' Everaldo — Substitution ⇄ 66' Eron — Substitution ⇄ 72' Renato — Substitution ⇄ 72' Joao Pedro — Substitution ⇄ 72' Baianinho — Substitution ⇄ 73' Nonato — Substitution ⇄ 78' Garraty — Substitution ⇄ 82' Silva — Substitution

Match events

11' 1:0 Santa Cruz FC Goal Renato
61' 1:0 Floresta Substitution Eliandro off: Cedric
61' 1:0 Floresta Substitution Rafinha off: Rafa Marcos
66' 1:0 Santa Cruz FC Substitution Everaldo off: Willian Junior
66' 1:0 Santa Cruz FC Substitution Eron off: Matheus Cadorini
72' 1:0 Santa Cruz FC Substitution Renato off: Alex Ruan
72' 1:0 Santa Cruz FC Substitution Joao Pedro off: Cassiano
72' 1:0 Floresta Substitution Baianinho off: Matheus Lima
73' 1:0 Floresta Substitution Nonato off: Jhony Douglas
78' 1:0 Floresta Substitution Garraty off: Thalisson
82' 1:0 Santa Cruz FC Substitution Silva off: Arilson

Statistics

46 Possession, % 54

2 Shots on target 4

9 Shots off target 9

67 Attacks 82

6 Corners 5

12 Free kicks 16

0 Offsides 2

0 Yellow cards 0

0 Red cards 0

8 Goal kicks 10

23 Throw-ins 31

Match prediction: Santa Cruz FC — Floresta

Win: Santa Cruz FC

Confidence 38%

Reasoning

Санту-Круз — 8. place, 29 points after 19 games (8 wins, 5 draws, 6 losses)
Флореста — 5. place, 30 points after 19 games (8 wins, 6 draws, 5 losses)
Санту-Круз, last 5 games: 3 wins, 1 draws, 1 losses
Флореста, last 5 games: 4 wins, 1 losses
Head-to-head: 1 games, Санту-Круз — 0, 1 draws, Флореста — 0

Full prediction

Analytical content. Not a call to gamble. 18+

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