Despite having already qualified for the semi-finals of the Bahia Championship and with the leadership of the first phase guaranteed, Bahia frustrated the fans present at Casa de Apostas Arena Fonte Nova this Saturday (14). Esquadrão de Aço only drew 2-2 with Jacuipense, in a game broadcast live on TV Brasil, in partnership with TVE Bahia.
With six wins and two draws, the team led by Rogério Ceni reached 20 points. That’s ten more than arch-rival Vitória, which appears in third place, but will still take to the field for the eighth and penultimate round – Rubro-Negro will face Bahia de Feira on Wednesday (18), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Barradão, also in Salvador.
The equality achieved at the end of the match kept Jacuipense alive in the fight for a place in the semi-finals (the first four advance). Leão do Sisal has the same ten points as Vitória and Porto (fourth place), but occupies fifth place based on goal difference.
The club from Riachão do Jacuípe (BA), however, has not yet completely freed itself from the risk of relegation (the last two fall). There are two points of advantage for Barcelona de Ilhéus (ninth) and one for Juazeirense (eighth). The two face each other on Thursday (19), at 7:15 pm, at Arena Cajueiro, in Feira de Santana (BA).
Bahia, who played with a mixed team of base players and reserves, scored the first after just five minutes, with midfielder Caio Alexandre taking advantage of Mateo Sanabria’s cross from the right in the area. The Argentine also participated in the second goal. It was his, at 23, the shot that deflected off fellow striker Everaldo and left it for midfielder Erick to finish into the net.
Jacuipense scored a discount in the 36th minute of the first half with midfielder Thiago. And when it seemed that Bahia’s triumph was on its way, Leão do Sisal equalized. At 46 of the final stage, midfielder Gustavo Pereira received the ball at the edge of the area and shot into the left corner of goalkeeper João Paulo, giving final figures to the game at Fonte Nova.
Phantom seeks draw
If Baianão has not yet completed the first phase, the Campeonato Paranaense is already in the semifinals. The first game of the clash between Operário and Coritiba ended in a 2-2 draw, at the Germano Krüger Stadium, in Ponta Grossa (PR). The return duel will be next Saturday (21), at 4pm, at Couto Pereira.
Coxa took a 2-0 lead in the first half, with goals from striker Pedro Rocha, in the 13th and 46th minutes. Fantasma reacted in the final stage. At 19 minutes, with the support of the video referee (VAR), the home team had a penalty, which midfielder Boschilia converted. At 32, after a corner kick on the right, the ball fell to Gabriel Feliciano on the left. The full-back hit from outside the area and beat goalkeeper Pedro Morisco, leaving everything the same for the game in Curitiba.
