In a thrilling encounter at Barradão, Vitória finally broke their winless streak in the Campeonato Brasileiro 2025, defeating Fortaleza 2-1 on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. This victory marked Vitória's first win of the season, providing a much-needed boost as they climbed out of the relegation zone.
The match, which kicked off at 21h30 (Brasília time), saw Janderson open the scoring for the home side in the first half, before Diogo Barbosa equalized for Fortaleza shortly after the break. However, it was Matheusinho's stunning strike in the second half that secured all three points for Vitória.
From the outset, the game unfolded at a rather slow pace, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. The first real chance came in the 10th minute when Pol Fernández's header forced a spectacular save from Vitória's goalkeeper, Lucas Arcanjo. Following a series of lackluster exchanges, Matheusinho finally tested João Ricardo with a long-range effort in the 29th minute, signaling the start of a more intense period.
Victory came in the 36th minute when Janderson capitalized on a well-executed short corner. Erick delivered a precise cross from the right flank, allowing Janderson to nod the ball into the net, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
As the second half began, Fortaleza responded quickly, with Diogo Barbosa finding the net just two minutes after the restart. He took advantage of a flick-on from Pol Fernández, slotting the ball home with ease. This equalizer seemed to invigorate Fortaleza, who continued to press for a second goal.
Fortaleza nearly took the lead in the 14th minute when Mancuso scored, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review confirmed an offside. This decision proved crucial as it shifted momentum back to Vitória.
In the 28th minute, Matheusinho emerged as the hero for Vitória, scoring a spectacular goal that would prove decisive. He connected perfectly with a cross from Jamerson, unleashing a powerful shot that left João Ricardo with no chance. The Barradão erupted as the home team regained the lead.
Despite late pressure from Fortaleza, including a dangerous header from Deyverson that tested Arcanjo, Vitória held on for the victory. With this win, Vitória climbed to 14th place in the league standings, amassing a total of four points from four matches.
Meanwhile, Fortaleza, who started the match with hopes of securing their first win in several games, found themselves stuck in 11th place with five points. The defeat adds to their recent struggles, having gone three matches without a win.
Looking ahead, both teams will be back in action on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Vitória will travel to the Maracanã to face Fluminense at 18h30 (Brasília time), while Fortaleza will host Palmeiras at the Castelão, also at 18h30.
The match attendance was recorded at 15,052 fans, contributing to a revenue of R$ 328,212.00, showcasing the passionate support for both teams in this competitive league.
As the season progresses, Vitória will be eager to build on this momentum, hoping to continue their climb up the table, while Fortaleza will need to regroup quickly to avoid slipping further down the standings.
