Match Report
On the table this was a mismatch: Nova Venécia (4th, 22 pts) held a 17-point advantage over Caldense (8th, 5 pts). Caldense ranked just 53rd in the league on five-round form despite their 8th table position. Scoring rates set the scale: Caldense 0.57 scored and 1.43 conceded per game, Nova Venécia 1.36 and 0.93, with the league averaging 1.16.
Caldense had been beaten in three straight games. Recent form was uneven: 1/15 points for Caldense, 8/15 for Nova Venécia.
The venue was Estádio Dr. Ronaldo Junqueira in Pocos de Caldas, with room for 15,000 spectators. On the scoreboard, it was 1-1 at the break; 1 second-half goal set the final 1-2.