Paysandu claimed a 2:1 victory over Confiança in the Brazilian Serie C, closing out Regular Season 16 on Sunday night. Pedro Carrerette opened the scoring before Icaro levelled just before the half-hour interval, and the match seemed destined for a draw. Then, by then, Italo Carvalho stepped in to end the stalemate with an 88th-minute effort.
The home side pressed forward after that equaliser, looking for a winner as the game settled into a familiar rhythm. Confiança held their shape and absorbed pressure, though they gave away too many cheap fouls in dangerous areas. The away end never stopped, even as the crowd grew restless for a resolution.
Substitutions came thick and fast in the second half, with both managers searching for an edge. PK and Pedro Felipe were among those brought on for the hosts, while Kelvyn and Luciano Taboca entered the fray earlier. The game opened up after the hour mark, and that is when the decisive moment arrived.
The statistics tell a story of control without dominance. Both sides held possession at 50 per cent, but Paysandu registered 11 shots on target compared to Confiança's three. They won the aerial battle from set plays and created more chances overall, yet the visitors showed remarkable composure despite the disparity in attacks — 93 to 73.
The result keeps Paysandu seventh with 29 points after 19 games, while Confiança remain 20th on 13. The home side have one foot in the next round of their campaign, whereas the visitors face a difficult run-in. To be fair, Confiança defended better than their position suggests, but the late goal changed everything.