Esporte Clube Bahia opened the scoring against Fortaleza in the Copa do Nordeste quarter-final on Wednesday after a video-assistant-referee review awarded the Salvador side a penalty for a foul on forward Gilberto inside the box. Striker Willian José converted the spot-kick, placing his shot low to João Ricardo’s left to put Bahia 1–0 ahead early in the first half. Fortaleza’s players protested the decision, but referee João — supported by VAR — upheld the call. The match remained in progress at the time of publication with Bahia holding a 1–0 lead.
O BAHIA TÁ NA FRENTE DO FORTALEZA, MAS COM POLÊMICAS! 👀 O Esquadrão abriu o placar em cobrança de pênalti de Willian José, mas o Laion reclamou MUITO da marcação do juizão! #CopaDoNordeste2025 https://t.co/Q1ghokOjvz
⚽ GOL DO BAHIA ⚽ Willian José cobra pênalti com firmeza e abre o placar da partida #FutebolNaESPN #CopaDoNordesteNaESPN https://t.co/VNppg0dqfS
GOL DO BAHIA! Willian José, com classe, botou no canto esquerdo do gol de João Ricardo! Sai na frente o Esquadrão! #CopaDoNordesteNoPremiere