Cruzeiro won 2-0 at Lima Rimac, and the scoreline was a fair read of the match. Glinho's side took 63% possession, produced 18 shots to Lima's five, and hit the target seven times. Proper control, from the first whistle.

The first cut came after three minutes. Walace Souza Silva released Youssef Ramalho Chermiti, Chermiti finished, and Lima Rimac were immediately chasing a game they never really got hold of. Renato Solís Salinas kept the hosts alive with saves from Walace on 10 minutes and Chermiti a minute later, but Cruzeiro had already found the rhythm of the tie.

JulianG's side did have moments. Leonardo Díaz Laffore forced Łukasz Fabiański into a save on 21 minutes, Diego Otoya Torres went close later, and Víctor Yotún Flores and Jesús Pretell Panta each finished with three key passes. But Lima's work in possession rarely became pressure: one corner, two shots on target, and too many attacks ending before the final touch.

The Key Spell

The game could have been done before half-time. William de Asevedo's 19th-minute injury forced Cruzeiro into an early change, with Numan Kurdić coming on, but it did not break their structure. If anything, Cruzeiro settled further.

Paulo Barbosa thought he had made it two on 44 minutes after Lucas Silva Borges created the chance, only for the goal to be cancelled. That mattered for the scoreboard, not for the pattern. Eleven minutes after the restart, Barbosa turned provider, setting up João Messias Ferreira for the official second.

That was the match. Not noisy. Not frantic. Just Cruzeiro doing the next right thing.

Why Cruzeiro Won

Both teams used a 4-4-2 with a Normal play style, but the same shape produced very different football. Cruzeiro's central players controlled the distances. Walace was the outstanding footballer on the pitch: man of the match, a 10 rating, six key passes, one assist and two shots. Lucas Romero gave him the platform with a 9 rating, while Lucas Villalba cleaned up behind them with six key tackles and an 8.

Credit where it's due: Lima's goalkeeper Renato made four saves and kept this respectable. But Cruzeiro's chance volume told the truth. Chermiti scored from three shots, João Messias scored from three, and Barbosa still managed five shots plus an assist even with his 44th-minute finish scratched off.

Fabiański only had two saves to make at the other end. That is the tactical story in one line.

Cruzeiro now move on in the AME Cup, with the competition listing them at home to Columbus on Tuesday, June 16. Lima Rimac leave the Continental Knockout having been outplayed, not embarrassed. There is a difference. This was controlled, efficient, and, from Cruzeiro's point of view, exactly what a knockout away performance should look like.