Cruzeiro’s woes continued in the Copa Sudamericana as they suffered a 2-1 loss to Palestino in Chile, their third straight defeat in the tournament. The team’s struggles have raised concerns about their chances of advancing in the competition.
Coach Takes the Blame
Cruzeiro’s coach, Leonardo Jardim, admitted frustration with the team’s performance and took responsibility for the loss. “We’re embarrassed by what we’ve produced in this Copa Sudamericana,” he said. Jardim emphasized that the team’s productivity was subpar, and they gave a poor impression in their three games so far.
The coach refused to blame goalkeeper Cássio for the loss, despite a defensive mistake that led to Palestino’s second goal. “In football, when one player fails, the whole team fails,” Jardim said. “We had several scoring opportunities but lacked the ability to finish them off. We also struggled in one-on-one situations. The whole team needs to take responsibility and recognize that Cruzeiro needs to play at a higher level.”
Late Defeat Proves Costly
The match against Palestino was closely contested, but Cruzeiro’s late defensive lapse proved costly. The decisive goal came from Kaio Jorge, who scored an own goal.
- Cruzeiro’s three straight losses in the Copa Sudamericana have put their advancement in doubt.
- The team’s coach, Leonardo Jardim, has taken responsibility for the losses.
- Cruzeiro needs to improve their performance to live up to their history and fan expectations.
🔴🟢 The winning goal for @CDPalestinoSADP against #Cruzeiro was an own goal by Kaio Jorge. #GrandeConquista pic.twitter.com/3u0TSHaKU1
— CONMEBOL Sudamericana (@SudamericanaBR) April 25, 2025