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Santa Cruz secures promotion to Série B after 10-year absence
Santa Cruz has mathematically secured promotion to the 2027 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B following a 1-1 draw against Maringá at the Arena Pernambuco. The match, attended by a record-equaling crowd of 45,500 spectators, saw Maringá take an early lead through Adeilson Maranhão just 20 seconds into the game. Santa Cruz equalized in the second half with a header from Pedro Favela.
This achievement marks the club's return to the second division after a ten-year absence and represents their second consecutive promotion, following a runner-up finish in Série D in 2025. The club's recent institutional recovery includes the implementation of a SAF (Sociedade Anônima do Futebol) structure, which recently provided a R$ 6 million injection to settle outstanding player salaries.
In other Brazilian football news, Sport and Náutico continue their campaigns in Série B, both aiming for promotion spots in the final seven rounds. Additionally, Paysandu remains in contention for Série B access after a 1-0 victory over Ferroviária, though they require specific results from other matches to advance.
Entities
Adeílson Maranhão · Arena Jaraguá · Arena Pernambuco · Brazilian Championship Série C · CRB · Campeonato Brasileiro Série C · Jaraguá Futsal · Liga Nacional de Futsal · Maringá · Pedro Favela · Praia Clube · Santa Cruz