Cashias beat Itabaianna 2:0 in the Serie C Regular Season round 16 on 9 August. The visitors took the lead early and saw it out despite being outplayed. Itabaianna sat 19th with 19 points while Cashias moved to 14th with 25 points.
Breno Santos opened the scoring in the fourth minute, and Joao Lucas doubled the advantage just after the break in the 48th. Itabaianna had 122 attacks and seven corners but could not find the back of the net. Cashias were clinical with two shots on target and two goals, and here's the thing — that is what separates the sides at this level.
Itabaianna dominated possession at 59 per cent but gave away too many cheap fouls, ending with 24 free kicks conceded. Cashias held a tighter shape and punished the visitors' high line on the counter. Victor Sa picked up a yellow card in the 34th minute before being substituted himself in the 54th.
Both sides shuffled their benches regularly. Itabaianna brought on Calyson and Tito at half time, while Cashias introduced Mancha, Cleiton, Leilson and Marcelo Freitas across the second half. Itabaianna's goalkeeper was never tested, which says more about the visitors' restraint than about the hosts' chance creation.
The result tightens the gap between the two sides in the table. Itabaianna's four straight games without a loss ended with this defeat, and they are staring at the drop if form does not improve. Cashias extended their unbeaten run and moved further clear of the relegation zone.