Fortaleza’s woes deepen as Copa dreams vanish | OneFootball

Fortaleza’s run in the Copa do Nordeste came to a disappointing end with a 2-1 defeat against Bahia, as detailed by Globo. Despite high expectations following a period of rest and squad changes, the Leão do Pici’s effort produced only fleeting moments of quality at the Arena Fonte Nova, leaving more questions than answers about their evolving form.

Manager Juan Pablo Vojvoda made notable adjustments for the knockout fixture, handing Matheus Pereira his first start and trying Brítez at right-back, while fielding just two recognised strikers up front. The early phases hinted at improvement—Fortaleza pressed well for the opening five minutes and looked to impose themselves through Marinho’s quick runs and Pochettino’s involvement down the right. However, Bahia soon found their base, dictating play and putting the visiting defence under consistent pressure.

It was a moment of clumsiness from Martínez that first cost Fortaleza dearly, fouling Gilberto in the area. After the referee’s review with VAR, Willian José stepped up to dispatch the penalty. Marinho had Fortaleza’s best first-half chance, forcing a sharp save from Marcos Felipe, but further disappointment loomed. Into stoppage time, goalkeeper João Ricardo, a typically reliable figure, failed to deal with Caio Alexandre’s strike from distance—a costly error that gave Bahia a two-goal cushion at the break.

Vojvoda’s side struggled to find rhythm after the interval. Passing errors, a lack of midfield control, and an isolated forward line made attacking progress difficult, with Marinho largely left to spark any threat but lacking support. Substitutes were introduced to add impetus, but it was debutant Matheus Pereira who provided a rare highlight. After Bahia failed to clear a right-side attack, Pereira lashed a shot into the corner—reward for the team’s first meaningful move of the second half.

Thereafter, Fortaleza poured forward in search of a leveller. Marinho tested Marcos Felipe again with a free-kick, and late pressure brought urgency but also mistakes—sloppy play in the final third and a visible lack of composure prevented a real comeback. Ultimately, errors mirrored those present in the club’s recent poor spell: this marked a fifth successive loss and an eighth game without victory.

The defeat not only sends Fortaleza out of the tournament but also exposes ongoing issues with creativity and cohesion in midfield, as well as lapses in both boxes.

On a brighter note, Matheus Pereira’s performance offered a glimpse of what he could bring as he settles into the side, combining technical ability with direct threat—a rare positive after a night of overall frustration, as Globo notes.

Fortaleza now turn attention to a high-stakes Clássico Rei against Ceará in Serie A. With limited time to recover, real signs of collective improvement will be required if they are to return to winning ways.