Introduction Paysandu vs Novorizontino
On the night of September 23, 2025, Paysandu hosted Novorizontino at Estádio Banpará Curuzu, in Belém, for the 28th round of the Brazilian Série B Championship. The match ended with a victory for Tigre by 1-0, goal by Rafael Donato in the final minutes. The result deepened Papão’s crisis, who remain at the bottom of the standings, while Novorizontino strengthened their position in the fight for promotion to the top tier in 2026.
The fans expected a win to start a reaction, but the night turned out to be frustrating. The home side fought hard and even scored through Maurício Garcez, but the goal was ruled out by VAR. Meanwhile, Tigre, despite struggles, showed maturity and decided the game in a decisive moment.
Before the match: context, history and emotional atmosphere
Paysandu entered the pitch under pressure. Winless in recent games and far below expectations in the campaign, they desperately needed a win to cut the gap to safety. The fans turned up in good numbers, pushing the team from the start, but with the nervousness of knowing each round could be the last chance for a turnaround.
Novorizontino, on the other hand, were in an opposite moment. Coming off recent wins, consolidated inside the top 4 and confident about their promotion project. The recent head-to-head record also favored the São Paulo side, who looked to impose their game even away from home.
The pre-match atmosphere was tension on one side and confidence on the other. This was reflected right from the opening minutes.
Lineups and tactical setup
- Paysandu: Diogo Silva; Edílson, Thiago Heleno, Genilson, Patrick Brey; Wesley, João Vieira, Robinho; Vinícius Leite, Mário Sérgio and Maurício Garcez.
- Novorizontino: Jordi; Aderlan, Ligger, Rafael Donato, Romário; Geovane, Reverson, Douglas Baggio; Rômulo, Jenison and Tavinho.
Papão started with a more reactive approach, betting on quick counterattacks down the flanks and Nicolas as a reference in attack. Tigre preferred possession, trying to build plays through midfield and exploit crosses from wide areas.
First half: balance, few chances and tension
The opening showed Paysandu trying to press in the first minutes, driven by the crowd. Maurício Garcez and Vinícius Leite attempted individual plays, but Novorizontino’s defense neutralized the danger.
The visitors soon leveled possession and began creating more chances. Rômulo and Jenison came close to scoring, forcing fine saves from Diogo Silva. The Papão goalkeeper was crucial to keep the score 0-0 at halftime.
Paysandu, despite the effort, struggled to build offensively. Passing errors in midfield and lack of mobility made it hard to create clear chances. The crowd’s anxiety echoed with every wasted move.
Second half: disallowed goal and late punishment
After the break, Paysandu came out more aggressively. Early in the half, Maurício Garcez scored, but VAR ruled it offside. The play increased frustration among the team and fans.
Novorizontino took advantage of the nervous hosts. With patience, they kept possession and targeted aerial plays. The persistence paid off in the dying minutes. At the 89th minute, Patrick delivered a corner and Rafael Donato rose above the defense to head home the winner.
Paysandu tried to respond in stoppage time, launching balls into the box, but to no avail. The final whistle confirmed another painful defeat for Papão.
Complete stats Paysandu vs Novorizontino
| Metric | Paysandu | Novorizontino |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 0 | 1 |
| Date / Round | 09/23/2025 – Round 28 | — |
| Goal | — | Rafael Donato (89’) |
| Possession | 47% | 53% |
| Total shots | 11 | 14 |
| Shots on target | 3 | 5 |
| Corners | 5 | 6 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 3 |
Head-to-head history
Paysandu and Novorizontino have met only a few times, but in recent years Tigre have had the upper hand. In the last 6 matches, Novorizontino won 4, Paysandu only 1, and there was 1 draw. The result in Belém extended that dominance by the São Paulo club.
Impact of the result
- Paysandu: remain bottom of Série B with 22 points. The gap to safety widens and they will need an almost perfect campaign in the remaining games to avoid relegation. Pressure on players and staff keeps growing.
- Novorizontino: climb to 46 points and stay firm in the top 4. The team now has three straight wins, riding great form and closing in on promotion to Série A. The away win shows strength and confidence for the final stretch.
Individual highlights
- Rafael Donato (Novorizontino): match hero, scored the winning goal with a strong header.
- Patrick (Novorizontino): assisted the decisive play, solid defensively as well.
- Diogo Silva (Paysandu): made at least three big saves, preventing a heavier loss.
- Maurício Garcez (Paysandu): scored a disallowed goal, showed effort in attack but couldn’t overcome the marking.
Atmosphere and refereeing
The refereeing was safe overall, though the disallowed Paysandu goal caused heated protests. VAR confirmed offside on Maurício Garcez’s play. Besides that, the match featured physical duels and punctual yellow cards.
The Papão fans did their part: singing, pushing and pressuring the opponent. But at the end, silence and frustration took over Curuzu after another defeat.
Expanded conclusion – Paysandu vs Novorizontino
The result exposed the very different phases of the two clubs. Paysandu, with offensive and psychological issues, failed to use home advantage and are inching closer to relegation to Série C. Novorizontino, on the other hand, showed maturity, balance and efficiency to secure valuable points in the promotion race.
The final stretch promises drama for Papão and hope for Tigre. Each remaining round will be decisive in shaping the fate of these two traditional clubs.
FAQs – Paysandu vs Novorizontino
1. What was the result of the match?
Novorizontino beat Paysandu 1-0, with Rafael Donato scoring at the 89th minute.
2. Did Paysandu score any goal?
Yes, Maurício Garcez found the net, but VAR disallowed it for offside.
3. What’s the standings update after the result?
Paysandu remain in 20th with 22 points. Novorizontino reach 46 points and sit in 4th place.
4. Who was the standout player of the match?
Rafael Donato, scorer of the winning goal. Diogo Silva also stood out for Paysandu with key saves.
5. What are the next fixtures for both teams?
Paysandu face Criciúma away. Novorizontino host Vila Nova at Jorjão, aiming to keep their top 4 spot.
