Borges and Dagoberto grabbed braces for the league leaders as Cruzeiro led by two goals, fell behind to the visitors by half-time, before scoring three times in the second half to win 5-3.
The victory took Cruzeiro 12 points clear at the top of the Serie A standings as Gremio slumped to a 4-0 loss away to Coritiba.
Gremio's defeat allowed Botafogo to claim second on the table on goal difference with both teams on 53 points.
It was 2-0 six minutes later as Ribeiro's flick set up Dagoberto to volley in from outside the area but just as Cruzeiro looked to be cruising, the visitors settled down and started their comeback.
In first-half stoppage time, Ricardinho side-footed Sueliton's cross past Cruzeiro goalkeeper Fabio and Criciuma led 3-2.
Borges equalised in the 58th minute with a snap shot in the box and then put Cruzeiro ahead with a powerful header from Elber's cross with 14 minutes to play, before Dagoberto completed the victory with a penalty in the 85th minute.
Cruzeiro moved to 65 points, while Botafogo rose to second after a 1-0 victory over Atletico Mineiro thanks to Julio Cesar's 52nd-minute strike and Gremio suffered their first loss in five games in all competitions.
Robinho and Geraldo also got on the scoresheet for Coritiba as they moved up to 13th in Brazil's top tier of football, while Goias, who sit fifth, claimed their fifth consecutive victory in Serie A with a 2-0 triumph away to bottom club Nautico.
