Santa Cruz(RS) and Gramadense share spoils in six-goal thriller

A dramatic 2–2 draw between Santa Cruz(RS) and Gramadense kept both teams firmly in the hunt for Copa Gaucho progression. Played on 18 June 2026 at the Estádio dos Plátanos, the match featured end-to-end action and two late twists that left fans on the edge of their seats.

Back-and-forth battle from the opening whistle

The home side started brightly and opened the scoring in the 14th minute through a powerful strike from midfielder Rafael Oliveira. Gramadense responded quickly, equalising just eight minutes later when a deflected free kick found its way into the net. Santa Cruz regained the lead before halftime when forward Carlos Eduardo converted a penalty after a handball in the box.

The second half saw Gramadense push forward relentlessly. Their persistence paid off in the 83rd minute when substitute Felipe Santos headed home from a corner, levelling the score for the second time. Neither team could find a winner in the final minutes, leaving the points shared.

Standings and impact

The result keeps both clubs level on points in the middle of the Copa Gaucho group standings. Santa Cruz(RS) will feel they let two points slip after leading twice, while Gramadense earned a hard-fought point on the road. The draw maintains the competitive nature of the regional cup, where every point matters for qualification to the knockout rounds.

• Match: Santa Cruz(RS) 2–2 Gramadense
• Competition: Brazilian Copa Gaucho
• Date: 18 June 2026
• Venue: Estádio dos Plátanos

Player highlights

Gramadense goalkeeper Thiago Alves made several crucial saves to keep his side in the game, particularly a one-on-one stop in the 70th minute. For Santa Cruz, the attacking duo of Oliveira and Eduardo caused constant problems but could not secure the victory. Both coaches will analyse defensive lapses ahead of their upcoming fixtures.