Anápolis win the first-ever Copa Centro-Oeste | OneFootball

Anápolis: champions of the first Copa Centro-OesteCredits: Rafael Brozeghini - Staff Images / CBF

Anápolis made history on Wednesday night (27) by winning the inaugural edition of the Copa Centro-Oeste, linked to the Copa Verde. The achievement came after two matches against Rio Branco-ES. In the first game, at home, they won 3-0. In the decisive clash, they lost 2-1, but claimed the title thanks to goal difference.

With the triumph, Galo da Comarca secured a place in the third round of the 2027 Copa do Brasil and will contest the Copa Verde title against the winner of the Nacional x Paysandu matchup, which will be decided this Thursday (28).

In Wednesday’s match at Kleber Andrade, in Cariacica-ES, Rio Branco took a 2-0 lead in the first half with goals from Braga, from the penalty spot, and Murilo Henrique, from a free kick, and threatened to erase the advantage from the first leg.

Anápolis players celebrate the titleCredits: Rafael Brozeghini - Staff Images / CBF

In the second half, the home team’s pressure increased, with a few chances created, while Anápolis looked to hit on the counterattack. The visitors’ goal came in stoppage time through Mila.

Then, after the final whistle, Anápolis’ players celebrated on the pitch. The club from Goiás was marking an unprecedented and historic achievement.

The champions’ campaign began with a setback: a 2-1 loss to Atlético-GO away from home, in both teams’ Group B opener in the Copa Centro-Oeste. Next, they beat Tocantinópolis 2-0 at Jonas Duarte, and repeated the score in the following match, at the same stadium, against Porto Vitória.

Still in the group stage, they were beaten 2-1 by Gama in the Federal District, and then thrashed Cuiabá 4-0 at Jonas Duarte. They finished second in the group, behind Gama.

After that, in the first knockout round, they drew 1-1 with Vila Nova in Goiânia, which took the two teams to a penalty shootout, where Anápolis won 4-3.

Against Rio Branco, they won 3-0 at home, which all but settled the tie, and then lost by the narrowest of margins at Kleber Andrade.

From left: Ronei Freitas, president of the Goiás Football Federation, Cláudio Gomes, CBF Marketing director, and Gustavo Viera, president of the Espírito Santo Football FederationCredits: Rafael Brozeghini - Staff Images / CBF

The champions: Ravel, Rubinho, Igor Souza, Rafael Costa, Leonan, Kauan Martins, Mila, Kauan Guilherme, Vitor Fonseca, Juninho, João Borim, Fernando Viana, Matheus Lagoa, Gonzalo Fornari, Fernandinho, Cássio Gabriel, Victor Hugo, Júlio Gouvea, Luiz Felipe, Rodriguinho, Gustavo Henrique, Helder, Robson, Gharib, Gabriel Batista, Darlisson, Ygor Pereira, Lucas Kallyel, Geovane and Kaik. Coaches: Ângelo Luiz (in the first matches) and then Evaristo Piza.

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