Match Report
8 points for Santa Cruz RJ (7th), 20 for América RJ (3rd): a 12-point gap. Recent form told a different story for Santa Cruz RJ: only 31st in the league over the last five rounds despite sitting 7th. Scoring rates set the scale: Santa Cruz RJ 1.33 scored and 2.11 conceded per game, América RJ 1.89 and 0.67, with the league averaging 1.29.
Santa Cruz RJ had been beaten in three straight games. Defeat had not touched América RJ in 10 games, having scored in 10 consecutive games.
The venue was Estádio Mourão Filho, with room for 20,113 spectators. On the scoreboard, it was 0-0 at the break; 2 second-half goals set the final 0-2.


