Atlético-MG lose to Ceará, crash out of the Copa do Brasil

Atlético-MG lose to Ceará, crash out of the Copa do Brasil The Copa do Brasil saw two Série A teams eliminated this Wednesday (13) by second-division sides. After São Paulo fell to Juventude, Atlético-MG was beaten by Ceará. Ceará, known as Vozão, secured a place in the round of 16 on penalties, after a 2-1 win at Castelão.

The Minas Gerais side took the field with an advantage after winning the first leg 2-1, but the tie quickly started to turn. With just three minutes on the clock, Mamady Cissé was sent off after pulling down Fernandinho inside the box. The play resulted in a penalty, which Alex Silva stepped up to take and converted.

Before the 20-minute mark of the first half, Melk found the net again, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review for a foul on Everson. But Ceará remained the better team on the field and scored its second goal shortly afterward, following a defensive blunder by Atlético. Renan Lodi cleared a shot almost off the line, but sent the ball onto Everson’s back, and it bounced into the net.

The home side kept controlling the action, looking far more likely to score a third than to concede Atlético’s first. Galo’s first shot of the match only came in the 41st minute of the second half, through Cassierra. And the Colombian was crucial in the goal that gave Atlético new life, delivering a fine pass to set up Kauã Pascini to make it 2-1.