Overview

• After a 1–0 win in the first leg, Santa Cruz drew 0–0 with Maranhão on Saturday to book a place in the Série D final against Barra-SC, with dates to be set.
• The club had already secured promotion to Série C by eliminating América-RN in the quarterfinals on September 7.
• Santa Cruz reported more than 38,000 tickets sold for the decisive match, building on recent home crowds that have surpassed 42,000.
• A binding proposal would transfer 90% of the club’s SAF to Cobra Coral with R$1 billion in investments over 15 years, including at least R$100 million for Arruda within three years.
• The contract includes a clause allowing the club to reclaim the SAF if commitments are missed, as Santa Cruz, in judicial recovery with roughly R$250 million in debt, targets council and assembly approvals by year-end and budgets of R$36 million for Série C, R$52 million for Série B, and R$100 million for Série A.