One year after relegation, Chapecoense returns to the top flight

  Rising above tragedy! The reformed Chapecoense team has returned to the top flight after one year in the second division. (Photo credit: T...

 

Rising above tragedy! The reformed Chapecoense team has returned to the top flight after one year in the second division. (Photo credit: Twitter)

Good people of the world wherever you are, for the love of soccer, the beautiful round leather game and humanity, rise to your feet, in acknowledgment of the resilience and fighting spirit of the Chapecoense team as they bounced back from the ashes of tragedy to rise to soccer prominence again.

 

Brazilian side Chapecoense, who lost every member of their squad in an air crash in 2016, were promoted to the first division on Tuesday after spending a season in the 2^nd tier.

 

 Chape, as the club are known, beat state rivals Figuerirense 2-1 to guarantee a top-four finish in Serie B with four games remaining and promotion for the 2021 season.

 

The disaster caught the attention of the entire football community across the globe and drew sympathy from all quarters including religious and political set up, sparking sales of team shirts and merchandise around the world. Teams such as Barcelona organized charity matches and fundraisers to help the club.

 

Although their budget is a fraction of Brazil's big city clubs, Chapecoense's hastily rebuilt side remained competitive in the top flight until they were relegated in December 2019.

Tuesday's win brings them back to the top table and sparked celebrations in the small southern city.

"Winning is good. Winning the Santa Catarina state derby is better. Winning the Santa Catarina state derby and guaranteeing a return to the Serie A is SENSATIONAL!" the club tweeted after the match at an empty Conda arena.

 

Chapecoense lost almost all of their first team squad and several directors and backroom staff when their plane heading to Colombia for the Copa Sudamericana final crashed into a hillside outside Medellin.