Brazil. There was a change in the formula of the championship this year – it affected the second level mostly, the championship was greatly simplified. 32 teams participated, but there was no longer complicated group phases and inclusion of eliminated top level teams. Instead, it was classic cup format – starting with 1/16 finals, direct elimination, leading to the final and the winner was the champion. Both the winner and losing finalist were promoted to first level for the next year. But the championship was scheduled in such way, so to finish before the 3rd stage of the higher level championship started – and the winner of second level, Copa CBF, was included in this phase of Copa Brasil, or Taca de Ouro, or the national championship, call it as you like. As for the participants – it was thorough second level championship, for, Guarani (Campinas) and Sport (Recife) excepted, there were no big names in it. Whatever the names, current form and luck ruled the competition:
Sergipe (Aracaju) was eliminated immediately by Sport – 0-0 and 1-2.
Avai (Florianopolis) ended its campaign right away too – losing to Guarani 2-3 and 2-5.
Nacional (Itumbiara) lost to Uberlandia 0-3 and 2-1.
ASA (Arapiraca) lost to Itabuna – after penalty shoot-out,which ended either 2-4 or 1-3. The record is unclear, but no matter.
In the 1/8 finals Sport (Recife) was eliminated by Botafogo (Joao Pessoa) – 2-2 and 0-2. More out of luck:
Pinheirtos (Curitiba) lost penalty shoot-out against Itabuna.
Guarani (Campinas) was eliminated by Uberlandia – 0-0 and 0-1.
Ceara (Fortaleza) also lost a shoot-out to Central.
At the ¼ finals Central reached the end of the road.
Central (Caruaru) lost to Internacional 0-2 and 1-1.
Itumbiara was eliminated by Uberlandia – 1-2 and 1-1.
And at the semifinals:
Internacional (Santa Maria) lost to Remo 0-0 and 0-3, and
Botafogo (Joao Pessoa) was no match for Uberlandia – 0-4 and 0-2.
So, the final – Remo vs Uberlandia. Uberlandia won the opening leg at home 1-0. Then, visiting , managed 0-0 at Belem and became the new winner of Taca CBF.
Remo (Belem) was unlucky, losing by a single goal, but, according to the rules, they were promoted to play higher level football next year. Was it followed is another matter, but that was next season concern.
So, Uberlandia, named after the city from Minas Gerais won the second level championship of Brazil.
The winners should be unknown names, but in South America one never knows for sure. Mocair and Batata are quite familiar names – if there is no duplication of names, which happens often.
Another version of the starting eleven features Biro-Biro. Ney and Cleyton also sound familiar… just as duplication of names is possible, another thing is possible: notoriously lax transfer rules may have brought some big names to Uberlandia at least for a part of the campaign. No matter what, the club enjoyed excellent season. In fact, the best ever for the club founded in 1922 – of course, it is largely unknown club to foreigners, but how small this club is? It has a stadium for over 50 000 spectators. Well, that is Brazil. Uberlandia normally plays small role in the championship of Minas Gerais, more often in the second division than in the first. So far, their best season was 1962, when they won the Minas Gerais Second Division. The second victory was much bigger – it was on national scale. And actually remains the highest achievement of Uberlandia to this day. As champions, they benefited immediately – promoted to Taca de Ouro for 1985, but they did not have to wait until next year: the winners of Taca CBF also joined the current Brazilian championship at the 3rd phase. The season was not over and, at least theoretically, Uberlandia had a chance to win the national title too.