Maringá FC defeated Coritiba 2-0 during the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Campeonato Paranaense on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at Estádio Willie Davids. This match marked a repeat of last year's semifinal exit for Coritiba, as they struggled against a more aggressive Maringá team, which capitalized on defensive errors.
Both goals were scored by Maringá's Max Miller, taking advantage of repeated mistakes by the Coritiba defense. The match was particularly challenging for Coritiba, who played with ten men after the expulsion of midfielder Filipe Machado at the 35-minute mark for pulling down Maranhão, who was on his way to goal. This early red card significantly impacted their ability to compete as they were already under pressure from the start of the match.
The first half ended without Maringá breaking the deadlock, even with their numerical advantage. Despite their strong start, the team seemed to lose some intensity. The dramatic shift came early in the second half, just one minute after the restart, when Miller scored following defensive miscues from Coritiba, especially from Rafinha. Miller took advantage of Negueba's corner kick, converting the rebound to open the scoring.
Coritiba, exhibiting slow and uncreative football overall, failed to pose any real threat throughout the match, particularly during the second half. The situation worsened for the visitors at the 38-minute mark when Miller scored his second goal, solidifying Maringá's lead as they exploited another defensive error by Coritiba, sealing the match with confidence.
The second leg of this quarterfinal series will take place on March 9 at the Couto Pereira Stadium, where Coritiba will need to overturn their deficit to reach the semifinals. Prior to this significant match, Coritiba will face Ceilândia on February 27 at 7 PM as part of the Copa do Brasil's first round.
The first half of the match was especially tough for Coritiba as they dealt with several challenges. Thalisson, one of their players, had to be substituted early due to injury and was replaced on the field. Coritiba's head coach, Mozart, had to adjust his tactics significantly after Machado's dismissal, heaving substitutes like Vini Paulista to attempt to reinforce their attack.
The match also saw notable debuts for two players under the Coritiba jersey. Tiago Cóser, recently signed from Benfica B, made his bow on the field after spending time away from competitive matches since May 2024, and was chosen to step up following Thalisson's injury. Gustavo Coutinho was also brought onto the field, coming on for Dellatorre as Coritiba sought to add fresh energy to their performance.
With broader ramifications for the teams, Maringá is buoyed by their victory and looks to continue their strong form as they now set their sight on Juventude for the Copa do Brasil clash on February 25 at 7:30 PM, promising to carry the momentum from their victory against Coritiba. Meanwhile, Coritiba, faced with mounting pressure, needs to find solutions quickly if they hope to bounce back and salvage their season.