Five years later, Coritiba was again champion of Paraná. This Sunday (3), Coxa beat Maringá 4-2 in the return game of the State final, held at the Couto Pereira stadium, in Curitiba. The alviverde team had already won the first leg by 2 to 1 at the Willie Davids stadium, in Maringá (PR), last Wednesday (30), in which they also left behind and sought the turn with goals in sequence.
IT’S CHAMPIONOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! ?⚽️?
Coritiba paranaense champion 2022!!!!? pic.twitter.com/t3WucPma8L
— Coritiba (@Coritiba) April 3, 2022
It was Coritiba’s 39th title in Paraná, which is the biggest champion in the state. The last victory had been in 2017, over Athletico-PR, their biggest rival. Maringá, in turn, reached the final for the second time and again took the runner-up, as in 2014, when they were defeated by Londrina on penalties.
Despite the offensive impetus starting to be from Coritiba, Maringá opened the scoring. At 15 minutes, midfielder Willian Farias missed the pass in the central circle and Matheus Bianqui took advantage. The midfielder ran out and hit the edge of the area to beat goalkeeper Alex Muralha.
Dogão almost extended it at 23, but the shot by the German striker, from outside the area, stopped at the crossbar. Seven minutes later, defender Ronald avoided the hosts’ draw twice. First, when saving a cross kick from side Egídio, from the right. Then, when blocking the conclusion of striker Léo Gamalho, in the leftovers. At 36, another chance for Coxa, with Léo Gamalho crossing on the right and forward Alef Manga completing in the small area, out.
#CFCxMFC – 4×2 – Igor Paixão closed Paranaense as one of the top scorers of the white thigh team! Couto’s piá has a star. ?? pic.twitter.com/QCuCfIp8Qf
— Coritiba (@Coritiba) April 3, 2022
Coritiba disenchanted in the final stage and settled the duel with three goals in seven minutes. In the first move, forward Igor Paixão took a corner, Matheus Bianqui deflected it and the ball was left for Alef Manga to release the bomb, almost in the small area. At four, the side Warley advanced on the right and rolled for Igor Paixão to turn the score around. Three minutes later, Igor Paixão received from Alef Manga in the area and scored his second, isolating himself in the artillery of Paranaense, with seven goals.
Maringá tried to find themselves on the field to reduce the damage. In the 32nd minute, forward Gui Sales (who entered the field a minute earlier) completed a cross by midfielder João Denoni for the nets and scored for the visitors. The reaction, however, ended there. At 39, Léo Gamalho dominated at the entrance of the area and hit placed, in the angle, scoring a great goal to define the score and the title of Coxa.
After the party for the state title, Coritiba turns its attention to the debut in the Brazilian Championship. Back in Serie A, Coxa welcomes Goiás next Sunday (10), at 11 am.
