The players began to enter the field, and the crowd in the stands erupted in applause and cheers. Each athlete, with a firm gaze and upright posture, felt the weight and honor of competing in a classic like Bahia vs. Vitória, a duel that carried the historic rivalry between the two teams.
As everyone took their places on the pitch, the players lined up at the center of the field, facing each other, proudly wearing their team colors. The flags waved in the breeze, and the referee, positioned at the center, signaled for everyone to prepare for the National Anthem. Silence fell over the stadium for a moment, until the first notes of the anthem began to play. With hands on their chests, the players sang in unison, showing respect for the occasion and the solemnity that the match demanded. Cleiton, focused, took a deep breath, absorbing the intense atmosphere and the support from the fans.
As soon as the anthem ended, it was time for the handshakes. Players from both teams walked to the center of the field, extending their hands in respect. Some exchanged challenging looks, while others offered nervous smiles. Cleiton shook Victor Hugo's hand, exchanging a brief look of determination, already anticipating the battles to come.
Finally, it was time for the coin toss. Jaime Filho, Vitória's captain and the team's goalkeeper, approached the center of the field alongside Enaldo, Bahia's experienced captain. The referee raised the coin, quickly explaining the options. With a firm gesture, he tossed it into the air, and as it landed, he looked at the captains.
Jaime won the toss and, without hesitation, chose to start with the ball. He gave a nod to Cerqueira, who was watching attentively from the sideline, already preparing instructions for the opening moments of the match. Enaldo simply smiled and gave Jaime a light pat on the back as they both returned to their teams.
With the teams in position and the crowd in a festive mood, the referee gave the final signal for them to get ready.
'FIRST HALF'
With the referee's whistle, the game began, and Cleiton, stationed in Vitória's defensive line, was focused, feeling the pressure of the classic match. At the same time, the passive effect of the "Defensive Leadership Aura" ability brought a sense of cohesion among his teammates. Ricardo Rocha and Dieguinho seemed in perfect sync with him, alert to every movement from the opposing forwards.
In the opening minutes, Bahia took control of possession, showcasing the flexible and dynamic tactical scheme that Coach Cerqueira had highlighted in their week's analysis. The opposing team, organized in a 4-3-1-2, dominated the midfield with Jorge Pereira playing a key role as a false nine, not just attacking but dropping back to organize plays and distribute precise passes. Noticing Jorge's tendency to drop back, Cleiton stayed extra alert, knowing that this opponent had both skill and vision to create surprises.
Just six minutes into the game, Bahia already displayed its offensive power. Enaldo, in a typical play, came down the middle, controlling the pace and drawing the defense. He spotted Jorge Pereira moving along the left side and delivered a deep pass. Jorge took control, cut toward the center, and attempted a shot from outside the box. The ball whizzed close to the crossbar, with Jaime Filho merely following its trajectory.
In the 8th minute, Bahia initiated another play down the right side. Enaldo, the captain, regained possession after a tackle in midfield and quickly passed to Jorge Pereira, who dropped back to receive and draw Vitória's defense. With a quick touch, Jorge redirected the ball to Victor Hugo, running on the left in a diagonal movement. Victor Hugo advanced with speed, looking for an opening to cross or enter the box. Cleiton, alert to the play, positioned himself to block any attempt at a finish. With precision, he intercepted Victor Hugo's pass, clearing the danger and drawing applause from the Vitória fans.
The game continued at a fast pace. Cleiton felt the effect of the "Protection Belt" in every tackle, especially in physical duels with opposing forwards. In a play near the sideline, at 14 minutes, Evandro, Bahia's forward, tried to destabilize him with a shoulder push in a challenge. But Cleiton, thanks to the belt, held firm, securing the ball and shielding it safely until he managed a precise pass to Dieguinho, who cleared it to midfield.
At 18 minutes, Bahia pressed again. Enaldo and Jorge Pereira were dominating the midfield, exchanging short passes and looking for gaps in Vitória's defense. Vitória's defensive system remained alert, and Cleiton organized his teammates, instructing Ricardo Rocha to cover the right side and Cássio to close off potential passing lanes. This intuitive communication kept the defense solid, but Bahia was determined to find an opening.
In the 22th minute, Enaldo made a vertical pass to Jorge Pereira, who managed to slip between the center-backs and advance toward the box. Cleiton, noticing Jorge's movement, positioned himself to block the angle, but Jorge, with a quick and precise backheel, passed the ball to Victor Hugo running on the left. Without hesitation, Victor Hugo crossed into the area, aiming for Evandro, who was well-positioned among the defenders.
Cleiton reacted quickly, intercepting the cross with a defensive header that cleared the ball from the small area. However, Bahia's pressure didn't ease. Regaining possession after Cleiton's header, Enaldo controlled the ball and waited for his teammates to move, searching for the perfect moment to strike.
At 25 minutes, the game's first big moment finally came. Enaldo once again showed his skill by spotting Jorge Pereira making a diagonal run, escaping the marking of Vitória's defensive midfielder, Kayque Silva (5). With a precise pass between the center-backs, he found Jorge, who confidently broke into the box. Jaime Filho rushed out to close the angle, but Jorge, cool and calculating, chipped the ball elegantly over him, finding the left corner and opening the score.
Bahia's fans erupted in celebration as Cleiton and Vitória's defense quickly regrouped.
'Vitória 0 x 1 Bahia'
The game resumed after Bahia's first goal celebration, and the crowd continued to cheer with more fans than usual for a youth match. The sizable crowd, chanting and shouting encouragement, added a unique energy to the stadium. This wasn't just any game; it was a classic rivalry between Vitória and Bahia, and the historic rivalry between the teams was visible on the faces of both players and fans.
After the first goal, Bahia, motivated by the lead, intensified their pressure, attempting to smother Vitória and widen the margin. Bahia's coach, Roberto, encouraged his players to maintain their intensity, and the team's dynamic system worked like clockwork. Enaldo, always highly active, acted as the conductor, setting the pace and keeping the ball moving across the field with short, clever passes.
Bahia threatened again at the 29th minute with a dangerous attack. Enaldo, once more playing the role of maestro, lofted the ball into the box, aiming for Victor Hugo, who leaped high to head it. Ricardo Rocha, well-positioned, jumped with him and managed to deflect the ball out, clearing the danger in a display of sheer grit. Bahia's fans let out a groan of frustration, while Vitória's supporters cheered Ricardo's precise defense.
In the 34th minute, Enaldo received the ball in midfield and, with a precise pass, found Victor Hugo, who had his back to the goal, near Vitória's penalty area. Cleiton quickly positioned himself behind Victor Hugo, ready for any move. But Victor Hugo, with skillful experience, used his body to shield the ball, staying calm as he executed the classic pivot move. He turned, feinting a direct shot.
Cleiton, sensing the danger, stretched out his leg to block the shot, but Victor Hugo was clever. Instead of finishing, he made a precise pass to Evandro, who was in a good position thanks to a momentary lapse by Ricardo Rocha, Cleiton's center-back partner. Free and composed, Evandro didn't hesitate. With a low, angled shot, he sent the ball toward the right corner. Jaime Filho managed to get a hand on it, but it wasn't enough to prevent Bahia's second goal.
'Vitória 0 x 2 Bahia'
The Bahia fans erupted in joy once again as the players celebrated together. Vitória felt the weight of the 2-0 scoreline and knew they needed to respond before halftime to keep Bahia from growing even more confident.
Cerqueira, on the sidelines, was gesturing intensely, trying to reorganize the team. He knew a goal before the break would give Vitória a fighting chance to come back and put pressure on Bahia in the second half.
Another dangerous play from Bahia unfolded in the 40th minute, this time with Jorge Pereira, who received a pass from Evandro and took a powerful shot from outside the box without hesitation. Jaime Filho dove toward the corner and made a spectacular save, pushing the ball out for a corner. Bahia was displaying their offensive prowess and ability to create danger from any position.
At the 44th minute, Vitória finally found an opportunity. Cássio, the right-back, decided to exploit Bahia's weakness on their left defensive side. He received the ball and played a one-two with Rodrigo, who returned it precisely. Cássio pushed forward and, upon encountering Renato, Bahia's left-back, executed a bold move. In a swift motion, he nutmegged Renato, drawing gasps, applause, and shouts of "OLÉ" from the crowd. Now free, Cássio raced to the byline, maintaining control of the ball and preparing to cross.
Nathan was already positioned in the box, focused on Cássio's movements. The right-back lifted his head, spotted his teammate well-positioned, and delivered a perfect cross. The ball arched with precision, heading directly to Nathan. With his improved heading skills, Nathan jumped at just the right moment, heading the ball firmly into the back of the net, leaving Bahia's goalkeeper with no chance.
'Vitória 1 x 2 Bahia'
Vitória's goal sent the stadium into a roar, with the red-and-black supporters in full voice. The players celebrated intensely, feeling the relief and renewed spirit.
In the final minutes of the first half, the atmosphere in the stadium was pure adrenaline. Both teams still searched for goals, but the defenses, now battle-hardened from the intense exchanges, held strong. Bahia, with controlled possession, tried to maintain their lead, while Vitória sought gaps to close the score.
Finally, the referee raised the whistle to his lips and signaled the end of the first half. The sound echoed across the field, followed by a sigh of relief from the players, who looked exhausted after the heated exchanges. Amid thunderous applause, the athletes began heading toward the tunnel, taking the opportunity to hydrate and catch their breath.
The crowd, vibrant and thrilled by the spectacle, showed their enthusiasm with cheers and claps reverberating throughout the stadium. It was clear this was no ordinary game;
The Bahia vs. Vitória Derby was living up to the expectations.