FORTALEZA, Brazil (Interstat) — Ceará SC opened its Campeonato Carioca Série A campaign with a decisive 2-0 victory over Fluminense on Sunday, defying pregame projections and handing the visiting side a season-opening defeat.

Playing before a home crowd at Estádio Castelão, Ceará controlled the match and secured the win with goals in each half, capitalizing on a Fluminense side that played a man down for the final half-hour.

The result was an upset according to statistical analysts Interstat, whose ELO system had given Fluminense a 53.70 percent probability of winning. Their game simulator had projected a 1-1 draw, a forecast Ceará rendered obsolete with a disciplined and opportunistic performance.

The match’s complexion shifted dramatically in the 59th minute when Fluminense’s Ignácio was shown a red card, forcing his team to play with 10 men for the remainder of the contest. Ceará was already leading at that point, having opened the scoring in the 38th minute. The sequence began with midfielder Vinícius Zanocelo, who delivered an assist to forward Antonio Galeano for the game’s first goal.

Ceará doubled its lead in the 72nd minute, effectively sealing the match. Forward Pedro Raul, who had provided the assist on Galeano’s first-half strike, found the net himself for Ceará’s second goal. The assist on Raul’s goal came from defender Marllon, highlighting a productive day for the home team’s attack.

The victory was somewhat marred by disciplinary issues, as Ceará saw three players booked with yellow cards. Vinícius Zanocelo received a caution in the third minute of first-half stoppage time. Pedro Raul was shown a yellow card just a minute after scoring his goal in the 73rd minute, and Marllon was booked in the 86th minute.

The loss leaves Fluminense with an 0-1 record to start the Carioca Série A season, a mark that also reflects its standing across all competitions. The team will look to rebound in its next scheduled match, a Brazil Carioca Women’s fixture against Rio de Janeiro on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025.

Ceará SC, meanwhile, begins its season with a perfect 1-0 record in the competition and overall, building positive momentum with a convincing performance against a favored opponent.