Brazil's Cruzeiro player Marquinhos Gabriel reacts during the Brazilian Championship football match against Palmeiras, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on December 8, 2019.Cruzeiro, one of the great clubs in Brazil, reached the last day of the Brasileirao in th
Brazil's Cruzeiro player Marquinhos Gabriel reacts during the Brazilian Championship football match against Palmeiras, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on December 8, 2019.Cruzeiro, one of the great clubs in Brazil, reached the last day of the Brasileirao in the relegation zone and does not depend on itself to remain in the elite of Brazilian football. AFP / DOUGLAS MAGNO

Cruzeiro suffered relegation from Brazil's top flight for the first time in the club's 98-year history Sunday following a 2-0 home defeat by Palmeiras that triggered ugly scenes inside the ground.

Belo Horizonte-based Cruzeiro, who won the last of their four league titles as recently as 2014, were condemned to the second division after ending the season with five losses in a row.

The match was abandoned five minutes from time after Palmeiras scored their second goal, as angry fans ripped up seats and threw them at the players amid scuffles on the terraces.

Trouble broke out towards the end of Cruzeiro's loss to Palmeiras that confirmed their relegation to the second tier
Trouble broke out towards the end of Cruzeiro's loss to Palmeiras that confirmed their relegation to the second tier AFP / DOUGLAS MAGNO

Riot police responded with tear gas in an attempt to quell the unrest.

Cruzeiro needed victory and for Ceara to lose at Botafogo to avoid relegation but fell behind on 58 minutes to a goal by Ze Rafael. A late second from Dudu sealed their fate.

Ceara drew their game 1-1 to finish three points above Cruzeiro, the record six-time winners of the domestic cup competition.