In a thrilling culmination of rivalry and skill, Rio Branco-ES defeated Desportiva Ferroviária 1-0 on March 22, 2025, to claim their spot in the final of the Campeonato Capixaba. The match, held at the Engenheiro Araripe stadium, saw Matheus Costa score the decisive goal, a moment that will not soon be forgotten by the assembled crowd of passionate fans.
The game unfolded under the weight of expectation, with high stakes riding on each player’s performance. After drawing 2-2 in their first leg, hopes were high for both squads, but it was Rio Branco-ES who would ultimately emerge victorious, ensuring their participation in next year's Copa do Brasil.
Desportiva Ferraviária, who boasted an unbeaten record prior to this match and had performed admirably in the season, began the game strongly with significant possession. In fact, they commanded an impressive 70 percent of the ball throughout the match, yet they struggled to break through the stern defenses of Rio Branco-ES.
The first half was largely uneventful in terms of scoring, but it featured intense back-and-forth play. Desportiva had several opportunities; however, despite their offensive attempts, including threatening shots that forced Rio Branco's goalkeeper Neguete to make pivotal saves, they were unable to capitalize.
On the other hand, the breakthrough came late in the first half. In the 47th minute, Matheus Costa, following a swift counterattack, took the ball from his own half, maneuvered through Desportiva’s defenses, and while attempting a pass, the ball returned to him. With a clear line to the goal, Costa calmly rolled the ball into the net, putting Rio Branco ahead just before halftime.
The second half proved challenging for both teams. Rio Branco-ES aimed to maintain their lead while Desportiva sought desperately for an equalizer, which could have sent the match to penalties. However, things took a grim turn for Rio Branco when defender Darlan fainted on the field after a collision and had to be transported to the hospital, causing a nearly ten-minute delay in play.
In the second half, the intensity escalated, resulting in a red card for Rio Branco’s Bruno Silva after he protested a refereeing decision. Subsequently, Vinícius Baiano from Desportiva was also sent off for similar verbal disputes, leaving both teams with ten men. The game’s drama peaked in the closing minutes when Desportiva claimed they were denied two potential penalties, one for a handball and another for a foul in the box, both occasions leaving their supporters infuriated.
Crowd attendance was at a record high, with 6,330 paying spectators and a total of 6,930 in the stands, setting new benchmarks for the championship. The atmosphere was electric, with fans cheering throughout the match, celebrating every tackle and every shot on goal.
As Rio Branco celebrated their win, Desportiva was left to regroup and prepare for the upcoming Copa Espírito Santo, needing to overcome the disappointment of their semifinal exit. This loss marked a bitter end to what had been a promising season for them, having had the best performance throughout the earlier stages of the competition and finishing as the team with the most points in the regular season.
Rio Branco-ES now prepares to face either Vitória-ES or Porto Vitória in the finals, following Vitória-ES’s earlier 1-0 victory in their first leg. The second leg will occur on March 23, 2025, at the Salvador Costa stadium. The anticipated final match for the Campeonato Capixaba 2025 is scheduled for March 29 and April 5, 2025, at the Estádio Kleber Andrade.
As excitement mounts for the finals, both teams will aim to assert their dominance in the state championship, with Rio Branco-ES chasing a second consecutive title and Desportiva looking to recover from this semifinal setback.
