IT WAS ALMOST
Tiago scored the first goal for the Esquadrão professional team, while Hugo equalized
Published on January 19, 2025 at 8:37 pm
Bahia lets victory slip away and only draws with Jacobina Credit: Letícia Martins/EC Bahia
The Squadron’s first triumph in 2025 will need to wait a few more days. In the probable farewell to the under-20 team representing the professional, Bahia wasted chances, gave rise to bad luck and secured just one point against Jacobina, in the third round of the Bahia Championship. At the José Rocha stadium, Tiago was responsible for opening the scoring of the match, his first with the Bahian tricolor shirt. When the lights went out, Hugo tied the match.
With the result of 1×1, Bahia ends the round occupying eighth place behind Baianão. With no time to regret, the Squadron returns to the field this Thursday (23), when they face Sampaio Corrêa, in the debut of the Copa do Nordeste, at Arena Fonte Nova. The match starts at 8pm and should mark the return of the main squad, which returns from Girona this Monday (20).
When the whistle sounded, the mission was clear: achieve the Squadron’s first victory of the season. Coach Leonardo Galbes lost defender Marcos Victor due to concussion protocol, but the main change was the attitude of the Aço players. Bahia launched an attack from the first minute. Whether out of a desire to show service or desperation to start the round in the relegation zone, the Tricolor began putting pressure on the home team’s ball.
When the offensive momentum decreased, Jacobina began to control possession of the ball more, while Bahia lowered the block to defend itself. The change, however, did not mean a drop in the team’s performance, nor did it mean a break to rest. Playing reactively, Jota knocked paint off the posts and Tiago stopped at goalkeeper Nilton. Despite Jegue trying to widen the field to try to break through the Tricolor blockade, Bahia’s defense gave no room for the opponent. In attack, the chances were not converted due to the lack of efficiency in the Squadron’s attacks.
In the final minutes of the first half, the script included the expression “soft water on hard rock, it hits so much until it pierces”. Everton found Tiago free with a throw and goalkeeper Nilton stepped up to clear it, but he mistimed it and left the goal free for the attacker to just leave a marker behind and open the scoring. Without conceding, the first half ended safely and with authority for the under-20 team.
It is not known what words were in coach Laécio Aquino’s instructions, but Jacobina showed that they understood the need to return from the locker room with a different attitude. Jegue da Chapada launched an attack and only failed to tie the game due to a difficult save from goalkeeper Gabriel. More patient within its proposal, Bahia suffered more, at the same time as it found more space to progress.
The home team owned the shares at the end of the match. He controlled possession, worked on the plays, but exposed himself beyond measure. When the error occurred, the Tricolor attacking trio was prepared to intercept and endanger the rivals’ goal. Jacobina’s improvement only balanced the confrontation, the best chances were still created by the team from the capital. The lack of care continued and was the main factor in maintaining the one-goal advantage.
In the final minutes, the home team became even more fragile defensively. Taking advantage of Jacobina’s momentum, Bahia held the ball in the opponent’s defense and piled up chances, which were again wasted due to lack of efficiency. A foul called in the last minute appeared like a light at the end of the tunnel. “Whoever doesn’t do it, gets it.” It was like that with the Squadron. Hugo rose above everyone and found the net to end the game with a draw, bitter for Bahia.
TECHNICAL SHEET
Jacobina 1 X 1 Bahia – Bahia Championship (3rd round)
Jacobina: Nilton, Caio Pinho, Anderson, Victor Ramon and Hugo (Aleff); Bruno Henrique (Guilherme Ivo), Benjamin and Marquinho (Dudu); Vitinho (Ruan Costa), Bruno Nunes and Gabriel Nereia (Bruno Puca). Technical: Laecio Aquino.
Bahia: Gabriel, Kauã Davi, Daniel, Fred Lipert and Caio Roque; Sidney, Jota (Samuel) and Vitinho (Roger Ruan); Ruan Pablo, Everton (Wendel) and Tiago (Roger). Technical: Leonardo Galbes.
Local: José Rocha Stadium;
Goals: Tiago, 46 minutes into the first half; Hugo, 51 minutes into the second half
Yellow card: there was none;
Arbitration: Reinaldo Silva de Santana, assisted by Elicarlos Franco de Oliveira and Patrícia dos Reis Nascimento.
