Goiás Esporte Clube had a remarkable debut night in the 2025 Copa Verde, dominating Rio Branco-ES with a decisive 6-0 victory on Thursday, February 6, at the Estádio Hailé Pinheiro. All six goals were netted during the second half, showcasing the relentless performance of the Esmeraldino side.
The first half of the match surprisingly ended without goals, with both teams exchanging possession but not translating it effectively on the scoreboard. Initially, Rio Branco-ES seemed competitive, presenting threats through attempts from outside the box and set pieces, particularly with Darlan's efforts. The team was even described as having the upper hand during the early phases, but they struggled to convert pressure to goals.
After the intermission, everything changed. The Goiás team, under coach Jair Ventura, came out aggressively. Just seven minutes after the restart, the attacker Pedrinho, who had just been subbed in, caught Rio Branco’s goalkeeper, Neguete, off guard as he attempted what appeared to be a cross from the right flank. The delivery instead curled perfectly to find the net, initiating what would become a rout.
Only two minutes later, new signing Vitinho capitalized on defensive chaos, concluding the sequence with precision and doubling the Goiás advantage. Just moments after, Tadeu, the goalkeeper for Goiás, struck from the penalty spot, making it 3-0 only 12 minutes after kickoff of the second half. The rapid sequence turned the tide firmly against Rio Branco, leaving them vulnerable.
The onslaught continued. At the 26-minute mark of the second half, Edson Carioca added another goal with a long-range shot, placing the ball flawlessly out of reach of Neguete. Pedrinho added to his tally at the 32-minute mark after receiving a pass from Juninho to net his second goal of the match. Finally, Rafael Gava capped the scoring at 40 minutes with another exquisite strike, sealing the game at 6-0.
This victory was particularly significant for Goiás as it not only secured their place in the quarter-finals but also showcased their dominant attacking power. The performance was bolstered by remarkable statistics, with the team maintaining 65% possession, hitting 14 shots compared to Rio Branco’s five, and creating eight clear goal opportunities against only two for the visitors.
Reflecting on the match, João Paulo, left-back for Rio Branco, expressed the disappointment of the defeat saying, “It’s inexplicable. We had a first half of equal play. Now it’s about gathering strength, resting, and correcting our mistakes because Sunday will be another tough fight, and we need to recover for the Campeonato Estadual.”
Looking forward, Goiás is set to face União Rondonópolis-MT, who emerged victorious over Aparecidense. These quarter-final matchups will be held over two legs on February 12 and 19, with Goiás playing the second leg at home due to having a superior ranking.
This match against Rio Branco-ES also marks the largest win of the season for Goiás, and with their eyes now on the Copa Verde trophy, which they previously claimed in 2016 and 2018, the team strengthens their position as potential champions. Their ambush of Rio Branco is sure to bolster both their spirits and their ambitions moving forward.