Maranhão, Barra, and Inter de Limeira had already secured their respective promotions to next year’s Series C.
Only the last semi-finalist of Series D-2025 remained to be determined.
Santa Cruz managed to dispatch América de Natal, playing at the Betting House Arena das Dunas on Sunday night (7).
After winning at the Pernambuco Arena by 1 x 0, Santinha sought the 1 x 1 in the final stretch of the duel in Natal in front of 29,807 attendees.
And it’s back to the Third Division. It hadn’t competed in the competition since 2021. And it didn’t even have a national division in 2024.
The last season was only 13 games, as it only competed in the Pernambucano and the first knockout phase of the Northeast Cup.
The Dragon, on the other hand, will endure another edition in Series D – the third in a row. And with the company of rival ABC, which was relegated this year.
The semi-finals will have Inter de Limeira 🆚 Barra and Santa Cruz 🆚 Maranhão.
América had control of the actions in the first half.
And even the marking of a penalty. Which was annulled after a VAR review.
The review indicated that the ball hit Balotelli’s stomach before touching his arm.
The deserved American goal came two minutes into the final stage.
Alexandre Aruá received from Souza, had space and beat Rokenedy.
Rokenedy was preventing the worst for the Pernambucano team.
The Dragon continued with more volume of play.
But without getting the goal that would avoid the penalty shootout.
Then Santa Cruz managed to be effective in the air.
Foul taken by Willian Júnior and goal by Balotelli (36′).
The pressure in the final minutes was from the hosts.
Santa held on and, later, celebrated.
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