Fortaleza vs. Atlético

Fortaleza vs. Atlético (Paraná)
Estádio Presidente Vargas
22 Out 2006
1600

Atlético of Paraná journeyed to Fortaleza for what seemed to be a must-win game for the home side. Fortaleza entered the game deep in the relegation zone of Serie A, and needed to win a number of games in the last 2 months of the season to have any realistic chance of remaining in Serie A for the 2007 campaign. The crowd was quite boisterous as they welcomed the tricolors to the field with chants of "Fica leão na primeira divisão," which translates as "Stay lions (Fortaleza's mascot) in the first division." Fortaleza came out with a spark, and earned a number of early corners. Those attempts were parried by the strong Atlético keeper. Fortaleza created another chance 15 minutes in, and their striker buried a chance from 12 yards out, giving the Atlético keeper no chance. Unfortunately, the typically porous Fortaleza defense then gave up two quick goals to Atlético giving the Paranaense side a 2-1 advantage.

Midway through the second half, the Fortaleza attack awakened and replied with two goals in short order, each thanks to a series of precisio passes that found a striker wide open 12-15 yards from the net. Fortaleza held a 3-2 lead with their fans holding renewed hopes of remaining in the first division. In the 75th minute, Fortaleza had a great chacne to make it 4-2 when a striker exploded past the defense and faced the keeper all alone, but shot wide of the net. A great effort by Fortaleza for 80 minutes seemed to have the side poised to capture three points in the standings with a win. Unfortunately, some errors in the midfield, and further poor defensive play, and forgettable goalkeeping yielded two goals to Atlético in the final ten minutes, giving the visitors a 4-3 advantage. A Fortaleza striker flopped in the penalty area late, appealing for a penalty that could have tied the game, but the referee would not fall for the dive, wagging his finger at the attacker. Fortaleza remains in the relegation zone with the loss, and appears headed for Serie B in 2007. They next play at home on national television against Corinthians in Estádio Castelão next Wednesday.