End of the First Phase Determines Qualified and Relegated Teams in Serie C
Final round decides the eight clubs that continue the fight and the two relegated to the fourth division.
The first phase of the Serie C of the Brazilian Championship ended on Saturday, determining the eight clubs that remain alive in the race for Serie B spots and the two teams relegated to the fourth division. The matches of the final round are played simultaneously, generating intense movement on the table with every goal scored.
Who qualified and who fell
Still alive in the competition are Botafogo-PB and Brusque, who had already secured qualification early, as well as Ferroviária, Maringá, Floresta, Inter de Limeira, Paysandu and Santa Cruz. On the other hand, Confiança and Itabaiana finish relegated to Serie D next year. Under the new calendar and format of the CBF's Serie C, six teams will be promoted from the fourth division this year, expanding the number of teams in the "Terceirona" from 20 to 24 for next season.
The drama of the final round
The fight for the spots was full of drama with the simultaneous games. Guarani went into halftime leading Brusque 1‑0 and was on track to qualify in eighth place, but they were overturned, the match ended 2‑2 and they finished in 10th position with 28 points, missing the next phase. The slot went to Santa Cruz, which earned a 1‑1 draw with Anápolis and moved into eighth place with 29 points. Ferroviária secured third place by beating Confiança 1‑0 in the final stretch.
How the promotion quadrangulars work
The qualified teams were split into two groups of four for the quadrangular stage. Quadrangular 1 contains Botafogo-PB, Maringá, Floresta and Santa Cruz. Quadrangular 2 features Brusque, Ferroviária, Inter de Limeira and Paysandu. The clubs will face each other in home‑and‑away matches within their groups over six rounds, starting next weekend, with games kicking off on September 5.
Path to the title and calendar
The two best clubs from each group after the six rounds earn promotion to Serie B for the following year. In addition, the leaders of each group will contest a two‑leg final to decide the competition title. The finals are scheduled for October 18 and 25, although the second leg may be moved due to coinciding with the country's second‑round elections. The CBF will confirm the exact times and dates of all decisive‑phase matches in the coming days.
With information from GE, UOL.
Source: ge, UOL