Fans invade pitch as Brazilian club seal top-flight return nine years after plane crash tragedy that killed squad

Fans rushed onto the pitch as Chapecoense celebrated their return to the Brazilian top-flight after a dramatic final day promotion.

Chapecoense sealed an emotional comeback to the Brazilian Serie A with a 1-0 victory over Atlético Goianiense, almost exactly nine years on from the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of the majority of their team.

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What happened in the 2016 Chapecoense plan crash?

In November 2016, the Brazilian team had been travelling to Colombia to play against Atletico Nacional in their first ever Copa Sudamericana final, when tragedy struck.

The plane crashed on its way to Medellin, killing 71 people, including 19 players, 14 members of the coaching staff and nine club officials.

Only six people survived, including three players: Alan Ruschel, Jackson Follman and Neto. 

Having to rebuild from scratch in the wake of huge adversity, Chapecoense have understandably struggled in the years since.

The side from Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil, have bounced between spells in both Serie A and Serie B.

Since their last relegation in 2022, Chapecoense have struggled in the second tier, recording three straight finishes in the league’s bottom half.

Chapecoense earn emotional return

On Sunday, the ‘Big Green’ were finally able to write a new chapter in their story, as they came out on top in the most dramatic of final days.

With the top four sides gaining promotion to Serie A, Chapecoense headed into their last clash knowing they needed results to go their way elsewhere.

Spurred on by a 19,300 home crowd they kept their side of the bargain, with a first-half penalty from Walter Clar enough was to earn them all three points.

With top-four rivals Criciuma and Goias both falling to defeat on the final day, this saw Chapecoense clinch promotion with a third-place finish.

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And wild scenes followed, as supporters at the Arena Conda spilled onto the pitch to mark the emotional moment.

This was Chapecoense’s third promotion to Serie A, the first of which came in 2013, kickstarting a run of six consecutive years in Serie A, while they also clinched the Serie B title in 2020.

As a result, they will now play among Brazilian football’s elite for an eighth season in the club’s history.

And Chapecoense’s promotion was made all the more emotional by an added coincidence in the date that they sealed their top-flight comeback.

Their return came on November 23 – the same date that the club reached the Copa Sudamericana final in 2016.

Nine years ago, Chapecoense made history by qualifying for the final for the first time, in only their second appearance in the competition.

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The Brazilian outfit recorded the biggest result in their history by defeating Argentine side San Lorenzo over two legs.

In the first leg, in Argentina, the two teams drew 1-1, before a 0-0 draw in the return leg earned Chapecoense their place in the next round, thanks to the away goals rule.

And while their historic campaign ultimately ended in unimaginable tragedy, Chapecoense had reason to celebrate on Sunday after their latest triumph in the face of adversity.