Eight teams advanced to the second phase of the Copa do Nordeste Qualifiers after winning their respective matches last Saturday (4). ASA-AL, CSA-AL, Juazeirense-BA, Treze-PB, Botafogo-PB, Ferroviário-CE, Maracanã-CE and Moto Club-MA guaranteed the classification.
CSA advanced after defeating Barcelona de Ilhéus 1-0, at the Rei Pelé stadium, in Maceió. Treze beat Santa Cruz 2-1 at the Arruda stadium. Another visiting team to qualify for the next stage of the competition was ASA-AL, who beat Sergipe 2-0 at the Batistão stadium. Juazeirense-BA, on the other hand, had to go to a penalty shootout to guarantee their place, after being 3-3 with Fluminense-PI in the 90 minutes.
At Almeidão, midfielder Igor Maduro secured Botafogo-PB’s 1-0 victory over Almeidão. Also guaranteed at home was Ferroviário, who defeated Santa Cruz-RN 7-6 at Estádio Presidente Vargas, in Ceará. At Frasqueirão, in Natal, Maracanã beat ABC 5-4 on penalties. The last classified was Moto Club, who beat Retrô 6-5 on penalties at Arena Pernambuco after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
The preliminary phase of the Copa do Nordeste is played in a knockout format. The eight winning teams advanced to the next stage, which will be next Wednesday (8). The four victorious teams in this second phase guarantee a place in the group stage of the competition, scheduled to start on January 22nd.
