Cruzeiro secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Chapecoense in the Round of 16 of the Brazilian Cup on Tuesday night. The hosts controlled proceedings from the opening whistle, with Matheus Henrique and Kaio Jorge finding the net to send the visitors packing. It was a performance that reflected their superiority on paper, though the match had its dramatic moments.
The turning point came just before half-time when everything shifted. Matheus Henrique gave Cruzeiro the lead in the 46th minute, but by then Max Alves had been sent off for Chapecoense after a second caution. The red card changed the complexion of the game entirely, and here's the thing — you could see the visitors' confidence evaporate as they were forced to regroup with ten men.
Kaio Jorge doubled the advantage with a penalty in the 87th minute, converting calmly after being fouled in the box. By that stage Chapecoense had barely threatened, managing only a single shot on target all evening. The captain dragged his team through what remained of the contest, but the deficit was too large to overcome.
Substitutions began flowing in the second half as Cruzeiro sought to manage the game. Rubens Ricoldi came on early in the 46th minute, followed by Fernando and the pair of Kenji and Bruno Tubarao in the 69th. Matheus Henrique was replaced in the 61st minute after his goal, while Marcinho made way for Chapecoense in the 82nd.
The statistics tell a story of complete domination. Cruzeiro enjoyed 64 per cent possession and registered 22 shots compared to Chapecoense's single attempt on goal. The hosts created four big chances and accumulated an expected goals total of 2.65, while the visitors managed just 0.04. Such numbers suggest Chapecoense were simply outclassed.
The result moves Cruzeiro closer to the quarter-finals, while Chapecoense's cup campaign comes to an end. The visitors had drawn their previous meeting 0-0 earlier this month, but this time the scoreline reflected a more comfortable performance. Three points and a clean sheet in what was always going to be a difficult away fixture.