A familiar face ends Fortaleza's reign | OneFootball

Fortaleza’s defence of their Copa do Nordeste crown met an abrupt end at the hands of Bahia, who prevailed 2-1 at Arena Fonte Nova on Wednesday night, according to reports from NE45 and Diário do Nordeste.

Despite a promising opening spell from Juan Pablo Vojvoda’s side—with Marinho forcing a clearance off the line—Fortaleza ultimately paid for a costly mistake and were undone by a familiar face. The deadlock was broken on 40 minutes when Fortalez’s Martínez brought Gilberto down in the box, with the penalty awarded after VAR involvement. Willian José converted, sending João Ricardo the wrong way.

Just before the interval, Bahia doubled their advantage in dramatic circumstances. Ex-Fortaleza man Caio Alexandre unleashed a speculative effort from distance, which should have been routine for João Ricardo, but the ball slipped through the goalkeeper’s grasp. The error left Fortaleza with a daunting task for the second half.

There was momentary hope after the restart. Matheus Pereira, making his first start, reduced the deficit with a precise strike into the top corner from the edge of the area, giving Marcos Felipe no chance. However, Bahia maintained composure and saw out the contest, despite a flurry of yellow cards and late dismissals for Brítez and Diogo Barbosa that saw the visitors finish with nine men.

Reflecting on the defeat, Vojvoda expressed a sense of progress despite disappointment, stating: “I think we played a good match, especially the first 10 to 15 minutes where we pressed high and played in the opposition’s half. After that, Bahia controlled the game with possession and quality. We finished the first half having conceded a penalty with many doubts and a second goal that was accidental.”

He added: “In the second half, I think the team was intelligent and managed to score. That’s football. We’re out of a competition which brought us joy last year. I believe our attitude and functioning is improving, though there are things we must correct. If we stay this course, Fortaleza will find results through better performances.”

The defeat underlines a period of transition for Fortaleza, both in squad composition and form. The club travelled to Salvador already missing key names due to injury—David Luiz, Bruno Pacheco and Moisés, among others—while recent signings such as Adam Bareiro and José Herrera were ineligible. Meanwhile, departures of Titi, Pol Fernández, and Pedro Augusto have further altered the group dynamic.

Bahia now progress to a meeting with Ceará in the semi-finals, while Fortaleza must focus attention on the upcoming Série A Clássico Rei against Ceará at Arena Castelão.