Goiás was eliminated from the Copa do Brasil on Tuesday night, losing 1-0 to Cruzeiro at Mineirão. The match’s standout player, goalkeeper Tadeu, was forced to leave the stadium in an ambulance after a suspected tibia fracture. Without their shot-stopper, the Esmeraldino side had to improvise with an outfield player in goal.
The incident occurred in the 44th minute of the second half. Tadeu collided with Cruzeiro striker Néiser Villarreal while attempting to intercept an attack. The goalkeeper felt severe pain in his left leg and, despite receiving medical treatment on the pitch, was unable to put weight on his foot. He initially tried to continue but soon had to be immobilized, placed on a stretcher, and taken directly to a hospital in Belo Horizonte for X-rays. Initial suspicions point to a fractured tibia.
At the time of Tadeu’s injury, coach Daniel Paulista had already used all five permitted substitutions. Unable to bring on the reserve goalkeeper, defensive midfielder Filipe Machado—who notably played for Cruzeiro between 2022 and 2024—took over in goal. The Raposa focused on preserving their lead and rarely tested the makeshift goalkeeper. Despite the setback, Goiás pushed hard in stoppage time, nearly forcing extra time when forward Esli García hit the left post in the 49th minute.
Cruzeiro’s winning goal came in the first half from a penalty converted by striker Kaio Jorge. The victory secured a 3-2 aggregate win for Cruzeiro, advancing them to the round of 16. The first leg in Goiânia in April had ended 2-2.
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Tadeu, Goiás goalkeeper, during the match against Cruzeiro in the 2026 Copa do Brasil (Photo: Fernando Moreno/AGIF/Folhapress)
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Tadeu, Goiás goalkeeper, injured during the match against Cruzeiro in the 2026 Copa do Brasil (Photo: Gilson Lobo/AGIF/Folhapress)
