🔥 Traditional Rio club back on the national stage after long drought 🎥 | OneFootball

Seven times state champion and one of the most traditional clubs in Rio de Janeiro's football, America will end a long hiatus without a national calendar.

After a 0 x 0 draw in the first leg of the semi-final, Mecão defeated Araruama 1 x 0 this Saturday (6), playing at Giulite Coutinho.

And secured its place in the Copa Rio final, a tournament where the winner chooses to compete in the Serie D or Copa do Brasil next season.

Leaving the runner-up with the other spot.

Portuguesa and Maricá - rivals in the other semi - will play the second match this Sunday (7). The first leg ended with a 2 x 0 victory for Lusa da Ilha do Governador.

Henrique scored the game's only goal at the 18th minute of the first half.

Previously, América had eliminated Niteroiense, Audax, and Cabofriense.

They only conceded two goals in eight matches. And remain unbeaten: with four victories and four draws.

Presided over by former striker and current Senator of the Republic Romário (PL), the Alvirrubro has not competed in a national tournament since 2010.

On that occasion, Alvirrubro was the third place in Group A7 of the competition, with ten points.

They saw Uberaba (13) and Rio Branco-ES (10 and superior balance) qualify.

Before, America competed in Serie C and Copa do Brasil in 2007.

They reached the third phase in the Terceirona, but were eliminated after finishing in the fourth and last position of Group 28.

In the Copa do BR, Mecão dispatched Alagoan Coruripe in the first phase, but fell in the sequence against Atlético Mineiro.

A 1 x 1 draw at Giulite Coutinho and a 2 x 1 defeat in BH.

The last presence in Serie B was in 2000, when they competed in the Yellow Module of the João Havelange Cup. And they have not played in the Brasileirão elite since 1988.

Success after poor campaign in A2 of Carioca

The first mission of the season was to return to the Carioca elite.

America has not participated in the tournament since 2021.

But the performance on the field was disappointing.

And there was even a risk of relegation.

Mecão ended up staying in A2 by finishing in sixth place, with 14 points.

Duque de Caxias and Petrópolis, both with 12, were relegated.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.