Alerrandro converted a stoppage-time penalty to lift Internacional past Coritiba 1-0 at Beira-Rio

Alerrandro converted a stoppage-time penalty to lift Internacional past Coritiba 1-0 at Beira-Rio on Tuesday night, a 34th-round result that moved the Porto Alegre club out of Brazil’s relegation zone and ended the striker’s scoring drought at nearly six months, CNN Brasil reported.

The decisive moment came in the 48th minute of the second half — UOL timestamps the goal at the 49th minute — when Rodrigo Moledo, a defender with a previous spell at Internacional, struck Juninho with the sole of his boot inside the area. After a VAR review, referee Fernando Antonio Mendes de Salles Nascimento Filho awarded the penalty, and Alerrandro took the ball and finished with precision.

The goal carried unusual weight for the 33-year-old forward: it was his first since May 16, when Internacional beat Vasco at the same Beira-Rio ground, a gap of almost an entire round of the league, according to CNN Brasil.

Stoppage-Time Penalty Ends Alerrandro’s Six-Month Drought

Coritiba had defended well as the visitor and reached halftime with the game still scoreless, having seen a Breno Lopes goal at the 36th minute annulled for offside after one foot was adjudged ahead of the play. Internacional created little through open play, and whenever the home side did break through, Coritiba goalkeeper Pedro Morisco — recently called up to the Brazil national team by Carlo Ancelotti, as CNN Brasil noted — stood firm, including on a 23rd-minute header from Matheus Bahia.

In the second half, Coritiba lost defender Jacy to a knee problem sustained in an early challenge and brought on Moledo. In stoppage time, Moledo attempted to clear a cross and caught Juninho in the area; after the VAR check, the penalty was given and Alerrandro converted to make it 1-0. UOL described the sequence as Moledo hitting Juninho inside the box with a raised boot, with the referee confirming the decision after review.

ge.globo.com graded Alerrandro 7.0 for the match, noting his composure in taking the penalty, and also highlighted Vitinho at 6.5 for suffering the foul that led to the decisive spot-kick. The outlet rated goalkeeper Kauan Jesus 6.0.

How the Winner Came at Beira-Rio

The first half was more contested than played, as CNN Brasil put it. Coritiba’s best chance before the interval ended in the disallowed goal, while Internacional’s closest effort came from Thiago Maia, whose shot deflected off a defender and went out, UOL reported.

Alerrandro beat Thiago Santos and fired low, forcing Morisco to save; Carbonero cut inside Tiago Cóser and shot, and Morisco spread himself to parry; the rebound prompted Internacional players to appeal for a handball against Sebastián Gómez, but no penalty was given, according to UOL. Morisco made further saves from Carbonero, and Gómez cleared a Mercado header off the line before Mercado and Juninho headed wide in succession.

Attendance at Beira-Rio was 36,412, of whom 33,507 paid, with gate receipts of R$1,514,667, Correio do Povo detailed, which also listed the full lineups and the officiating team, with Caio Max Augusto Vieira operating the VAR.

Without Alan Patrick, Internacional Struggled to Create

Internacional’s buildup was hampered by the absence of Alan Patrick, who was sidelined through injury, forcing coach Eduardo Baptista to start Carbonero in his place, Correio do Povo reported. Without their chief playmaker, the home side found it hard to construct clear openings and repeatedly stalled against a well-organized Coritiba block. Baptista made changes in search of more width, but the alterations did not produce the expected effect, and the side lacked quality in the final third until the penalty arrived.

Coritiba’s first real opportunity actually came at the 16th minute, when Pedro Rocha played a one-two with Josué on the right and returned the ball inside the area, only to shoot weakly and allow Kauan Jesus an easy save, Correio do Povo recounted.

Internacional Climb to 16th, One Point Clear of Relegation

The win took Internacional to 38 points and provisionally 16th in the table — one point above city rival Grêmio, who open the four-team relegation zone in 17th, and two clear of Corinthians in 18th, CNN Brasil reported. Coritiba remain 11th with 42 points.

If both Grêmio and Corinthians win on Wednesday, Coritiba would sit just three points above the relegation zone at the end of the round, CNN Brasil noted — meaning the Paraná club, despite its cushion, has an interest in its rivals losing.

Wednesday’s Fixtures Could Reshape the Relegation Fight

Grêmio travel to face Flamengo and Corinthians visit São Paulo on Wednesday, both matches away from home, according to CNN Brasil. Internacional now need those two results to go against them to remain outside the relegation zone during the FIFA international break. Both Internacional and Coritiba now pause for the FIFA date; Coritiba return on Nov. 18 to host Santos and Internacional visit Vasco at São Januário the following day, in what could be a direct relegation battle, Correio do Povo reported.

Questions Readers Are Asking About Internacional’s Win

The incident happened in stoppage time when Moledo cleared a cross and caught Juninho. The referee consulted the VAR before awarding the kick, per both CNN Brasil and UOL.

The club moved provisionally to 16th with 38 points, one above Grêmio and two above Corinthians, who are both in the relegation zone and play Wednesday.

After the FIFA break, Coritiba host Santos on Nov. 18 and Internacional visit Vasco on Nov. 19.

Whether Wednesday’s results in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo widen or erase the one-point gap over Grêmio is the question still open as the league pauses.

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