São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil – Ceará secured a hard-fought victory over São Bernardo in the Copa do Brasil on Tuesday, advancing to the fifth round of the competition after a 3-2 penalty shootout win following a scoreless draw. Goalkeeper Richard was the hero for O Vovô (The Grandfather), saving two penalties and proving the difference in a tense encounter at Estádio 1º de Maio.
The win not only propels Ceará into the next stage of Brazil’s premier cup competition but also earns the club a prize of R$2 million (approximately $390,000 USD as of March 18, 2026), according to reports. Ceará’s overall earnings in the Copa do Brasil now total nearly R$7 million (approximately $1.37 million USD).
Dominant First Half, Dramatic Finish
Ceará controlled much of the play, particularly in the first half, creating several scoring opportunities. Forward Vina and left-back Fernando both had clear chances early in the match, with Fernando frequently involved in the attack. Matheusinho also threatened the São Bernardo goal with a dangerous run and shot in the 25th minute. Despite the sustained pressure, Ceará couldn’t break the deadlock before halftime.
São Bernardo managed to create some counter-attacking moments, with Fábricio Daniel leading one such effort, but Ceará’s defense largely held firm. A header from Marcão in the 15th minute posed a brief threat, but Richard was equal to the challenge. Vina continued to be a focal point for Ceará’s attack, exploiting space created by Wendel Silva.
The game remained scoreless through regulation and extra time, setting the stage for a dramatic penalty shootout. Richard stepped up when his team needed him most, denying two São Bernardo attempts and sending Ceará through to the next round.
Richard Reflects on the Victory
Following the match, Richard expressed relief and satisfaction with the result. “It was a difficult game, wasn’t it? We felt we deserved to win in normal time,” he said, as reported by multiple sources. “Thank God, everything worked out, I managed to get the saves. I thought I was going the wrong way on some of them, but it doesn’t matter – passing through to the next phase was the most essential thing.”
Richard also praised the team’s spirit and the guidance of coach Mozart. “We have a group of men, a great coach who is passing on clear ideas, and we are managing to apply them. We have a lot to grow, and I hope we can have a safe Série B season to achieve our main objective,” he added.
Looking Ahead: Série B Opener Against São Bernardo
The victory over São Bernardo is a significant boost for Ceará as they prepare for the start of the Série B season. Interestingly, their first league match will be a rematch against São Bernardo, this time at Arena Castelão in Fortaleza on Saturday, March 21st. The match is scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM Brasília time (UTC-3).
Ceará will be in Pot 2 for the Copa do Brasil draw, facing teams from Pot 1, which consists of clubs in Brazil’s Série A and their rivals, Fortaleza. The draw will determine their opponent in the fifth round of the competition.
The team is scheduled to reconvene for training on Thursday, March 19th, to begin preparations for the Série B opener. The club will be looking to build on the momentum from their Copa do Brasil success and mount a strong challenge for promotion back to Série A.
This victory underscores Ceará’s ambition and resilience, and fans will be eager to see how the team performs as they navigate both the Copa do Brasil and the challenges of the Série B campaign. The performance of Richard, in particular, will be crucial as they aim for success on both fronts.
