Brave Chapecoense secure top-flight status
It has been nearly a year since a plane crash devastated Chapecoense, but the club will play top-flight football again next season.
Chapecoense's defeat of Vitoria ensured they retained their top-flight status less than a year after the club was decimated by a plane crash.
Thursday's 2-1 win guaranteed their safety with three games remaining, with the achievement following the 2016 crash that killed 71 people who were flying to Colombia on November 28 for the final of the Copa Sudamericana.
Despite being forced to rebuild ahead of this Brazilian Serie A campaign, Chape rejected the offer of immunity from relegation and after Thursday's result they celebrated attaining the feat on merit.
Chape, playing at home, fell behind to David's 20th-minute goal, but efforts from Arthur and Tulio de Melo wrapped up three precious points.
Alan Ruschel, who has made eight appearances this season after surviving the crash, was an unused substitute.
A video posted on the club's official Twitter account of the jubilant scenes inside the Chape dressing room was widely shared as congratulations poured in from across the globe.
E A COMEMORAÇÃO NÃO PODIA SER DIFERENTE!! Chapecoense garantida no Brasileirão Série A 2018!!VAAAAAMOS, VAMOS CHAPEEEE!! November 17, 2017
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
‘Maybe I’ll be signed by Wrexham, who knows? English football would suit me – if an offer came, I wouldn’t think twice, I’d go immediately’ Euro 2024 cult hero reveals his UK dream
‘Managing Leeds? It was an option that appeared, but it wasn’t the right timing. I decided it wasn’t a good idea to leave the club I was at mid-season’: Premier League boss admits to turning down opportunity to replace Jesse Marsch in 2023