Ceará beat Ponte Preta 2-0 in the Brasileiro Série B. The win was shaped by an early red card for Ponte Preta's Júlio de Oliveira, who was sent off in the 19th minute after receiving a second yellow. Ceará took the lead ten minutes later and added a second late on.
Lucca opened the scoring in the 29th minute, converting after Giovanni Pavani's assist for 1-0. Giulio Gabriel da Silva made it 2-0 in the 78th minute, with Gabriel Silva Rocha providing the assist. The sending-off left Ponte Preta chasing the game, and they rarely threatened.
The stats underline a tight contest: Ponte Preta edged possession with 52% and had four shots to Ceará's three, but failed to put a single effort on target. Ceará had just one shot on target themselves, yet won by two goals.
