Criciúma beats Brusque with a goal at the end and takes advantage in the final of Santa Catarina

Criciúma tried, pressed, until they managed to beat Brusque this Saturday afternoon. Tigre faced Quadricolor for the first leg of the grand final of the 2023 Santa Catarina Championship, at Estádio Heriberto Hulse, and took the lead with a goal by Lohan, at the end of the match.

Playing at home, Criciúma was superior throughout the first half and most of the final stage. After hitting the post and stopping at goalkeeper Matheus Nogueira, the team managed to score the decisive goal in the 49th minute, after a long VAR analysis.

Even so, the triumph by the minimum score leaves the state decision completely open for next weekend. The teams face each other again next Saturday, at Augusto Bauer, with the command of Brusque, at 4:30 pm (Brasília time), to find out who gets the cup.

After returning from the second division, Criciúma had the fourth best campaign in the first phase and passed Avaí and Hercílio Luz in the qualifiers. Now, he tries to win his 11th Santa Catarina title.

Brusque is trying to lift the trophy for the third time in its history, the second consecutively. Quadricolor, which until then had been undefeated in the tournament, dispatched Concórdia and Barra before reaching the final.

How was the game?

Criciúma started the decision with everything and, for very little, did not open the scoring with less than a minute. Right after the opening whistle, Rodrigo launched into the area, Claudinho fixed it first and Eder, formerly of São Paulo, kicked it, but goalkeeper Matheus Nogueira saved it.

At three, Tigre arrived again, this time with Rômulo, who crossed the area and hit the crossbar. The home team kept pressing and scared Brusque again at 18, when João Pedro missed the ball and Fabinho finished. Quadricolor’s defense managed to stop and ward off the danger.

Brusque’s first danger arrival happened at 23. In a corner kick, defender Wallace kicked unbalanced and stopped in Gustavo’s hands. Already at 24, it was Fabinho’s turn to risk in favor of Criciúma, but Matheus Nogueira won.

Tigre would still be in danger three more times in the first half. At 28 minutes, Marcinho corrected a hit from the middle and saw the ball pass to the left of the goal. Then, at 31 minutes, Marcelo Hermes had plenty after a corner kick and hit low, taking paint off the crossbar.

Eder almost scored in the 36th minute, with a placed kick that missed the opponent’s goal. The attacker once again reached 46, after making a good move on the right and finishing firmly. Matheus Nogueira palmed and avoided the goal.