Bruno Mezenga sees late penalty saved as Ituano miss Paulistão promotion | OneFootball

Bruno Mezenga had a late penalty saved as Ituano fell short of promotion against Ferroviária on Thursday night at Fonte Luminosa.

At 42 minutes, with the score 1-1, the forward struck at mid-height to Dênis Junior’s left and the goalkeeper saved. According to Globo.com, the stop all but confirmed Ferroviária’s rise and left Ituano in Série A2 for a third straight year. Scoring would have left Ituano one goal from promotion.

Signed by Mazola Jr. for 2026, Mezenga arrived in December on a deal covering the Paulista Série A2 and the Brasileiro Série C. In the state competition he has only two goals and is again enduring a lean spell in a career of ups and downs.

A Flamengo academy graduate, he turned professional with the club and later played for Fortaleza, Goiás, Ferroviária and CSA. Abroad, he has had stints in Türkiye, Poland and Croatia.

He was top scorer of the 2021 Paulistão for Ferroviária with nine goals in 12 games. In 2023, at 34, he challenged again with Água Santa, scoring seven in a run to a runners-up finish in the state championship. He also netted both goals in the 2-1 first-leg win over Palmeiras.

That form earned a move to Santos, where his quiet spell ended in relegation to Série B. From 2024 to 2025 with Náutico, he played 49 matches and scored 11 goals.

Source: Globo.com