The 2018 Copa do Brasil Finals was the final two-legged tie that decided the 2018 Copa do Brasil, the 30th season of the Copa do Brasil, Brazil's national cup football tournament organised by the Brazilian Football Confederation.
The finals were contested in a two-legged home-and-away format between the defending champions Cruzeiro, from Minas Gerais, and Corinthians, from São Paulo. Cruzeiro and Corinthians reached the Copa do Brasil finals for the eighth and sixth time, respectively.
A draw by CBF was held on 27 September 2018 to determine the home-and-away teams for each leg. The first leg was hosted by Cruzeiro at Mineirão in Belo Horizonte on 10 October 2018, while the second leg was hosted by Corinthians at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo on 17 October 2018.
Cruzeiro defeated Corinthians 3–1 on aggregate in the finals to win their sixth title. As champions, Cruzeiro earned the right to play in the 2019 Copa Libertadores Group stage and the 2019 Copa do Brasil Round of 16. Cruzeiro were the first team to successfully defend the title.
Teams TeamPrevious finals appearances (bold indicates winners) Cruzeiro7 (1993, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2014, 2017) Corinthians5 (1995, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2009)
Road to the final
Note: In all scores below, the score of the home team is given first. CruzeiroRound CorinthiansOpponentVenueScoreOpponentVenueScore Atlético Paranaense(won 3–2 on aggregate)Away1–2Round of 16 Vitória(won 3–1 on aggregate)Away0–0Home1–1Home3–1 SantosAway0–1Quarter-finals Chapecoense(won 2–0 on aggregate)Home1–0Home1–2Away0–1 Palmeiras(won 2–1 on aggregate)Away0–1Semi-finals FlamengoAway0–0Home1–1Home2–1
Format In the finals, the teams played a single-elimination tournament with the following rules: The finals were played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. The home-and-away teams for both legs were determined by a draw held on 27 September 2018 at the CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. If tied on aggregate, the away goals rule and extra time would not be used and the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner. (Regulations Article 12.c).
Matches First leg In the second leg of the semi-finals, Douglas (Corinthians) picked up a yellow card and Sassá (Cruzeiro) was sent off which meant they were suspended for the first leg of the Finals. Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro) was called-up for the Uruguay National Team and he could not play the first leg.
A goal from Thiago Neves gave Cruzeiro a 1–0 win over Corinthians in the first leg. The winning goal came after a cross from Egídio headed into the net in the 45th minute by Thiago Neves.
GK 1 FábioRB 22 EdílsonCB 26 DedéCB 3 LéoLB 6 Egídio CM 8 Henrique (c) CM 5 Ariel CabralRW 19 RobinhoAM 30 Thiago Neves LW 18 Rafinha CF 28 Hernán Barcos Substitutes:GK 12 RafaelDF 2 EzequielDF 4 MuriloDF 25 Marcelo HermesMF 16 Lucas SilvaMF 20 Bruno SilvaMF 21 Federico MancuelloMF 29 Lucas RomeroFW 7 Rafael Sóbis FW 9 FredFW 11 David FW 17 Raniel Manager: Mano Menezes GK 12 Cássio (c)RB 23 FagnerCB 14 Léo Santos CB 3 HenriqueLB 35 Danilo AvelarDM 15 RalfDM 5 GabrielRW 11 Ángel RomeroAM 10 Jádson AM 22 Mateus Vital LW 25 Clayson Substitutes:GK 27 WalterDF 13 MarllonDF 33 Carlos AugustoDF 34 Pedro HenriqueMF 2 Guilherme MantuanMF 16 Ángelo Araos MF 17 ThiaguinhoMF 20 DaniloMF 38 Pedrinho FW 7 JonathasFW 21 Sergio DíazFW 47 Emerson Sheik Manager: Jair Ventura
Man of the Match: Thiago Neves (Cruzeiro)
Assistant referees: Alessandro Álvaro Rocha de Matos (Bahia) Fabrício Vilarinho da Silva (Goiás) Fourth official: Bruno Arleu de Araújo (Rio de Janeiro) Fifth official: Rafael da Silva Alves (Rio Grande do Sul) Video assistant referee: Wilton Sampaio (Goiás)
Second leg Egídio (Cruzeiro), booked in the first leg, Ángelo Araos (Corinthians) sent off in the first leg, and Sassá (Cruzeiro), suspended six games, were ruled out of the second leg.
In the second leg, Cruzeiro defeated Corinthians 1–2 to lift the Copa do Brasil. Robinho scored in the 27th minute after Hernan Barcos' shot off the post. Jádson equalized thanks to a penalty awarded with the help of the VAR after a play between Thiago Neves and Ralf within the Cruzeiro area. The referee, after another VAR review, annulled a goal of Pedrinho due to a foul on Dedé by Jádson. With under 10 minutes left, Giorgian De Arrascaeta scored after a pass from Raniel finishing a counter attack.
GK 12 Cássio (c)RB 23 Fagner CB 14 Léo SantosCB 3 HenriqueLB 35 Danilo AvelarCM 15 Ralf CM 5 Gabriel RW 11 Ángel RomeroAM 10 Jádson LW 47 Emerson Sheik CF 7 Jonathas Substitutes:GK 27 WalterDF 13 MarllonDF 33 Carlos AugustoDF 34 Pedro HenriqueDF 37 VilsonMF 17 ThiaguinhoMF 20 DaniloMF 22 Mateus Vital MF 30 DouglasMF 38 Pedrinho FW 21 Sergio DíazFW 25 Clayson Manager: Jair Ventura GK 1 FábioRB 22 EdílsonCB 26 DedéCB 3 LéoLB 29 Lucas RomeroCM 8 Henrique (c)CM 5 Ariel CabralRW 19 Robinho AM 30 Thiago Neves LW 18 Rafinha CF 28 Hernán Barcos Substitutes:GK 12 RafaelDF 2 EzequielDF 4 MuriloDF 14 CacáDF 25 Marcelo HermesMF 10 Giorgian De Arrascaeta MF 16 Lucas Silva MF 20 Bruno SilvaFW 7 Rafael SóbisFW 9 FredFW 11 DavidFW 17 Raniel Manager: Mano Menezes
Man of the Match: Dedé (Cruzeiro)
Assistant referees: Rodrigo Figueiredo Henrique Corrêa (Rio de Janeiro) Bruno Boschilia (Paraná) Fourth official: Jean Pierre Gonçalves Lima (Rio Grande do Sul) Fifth official: Luiz Cláudio Regazone (Rio de Janeiro) Video assistant referee: Wilton Sampaio (Goiás)
See also 2018 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
References