Watch Chapecoense plane crash survivor Ruschel lift title four years after tragedy following last-minute Panenka penalty
CHAPECOENSE’S only remaining player from the plane crash has captained the club to the Serie B title.
And the Brazilian club ensured they were crowned champions with a 97th-minute Panenka penalty.
Skipper Alan Ruschel then lifted the trophy in emotional scenes at the Arena Conda in Chapeco.
Ruschel, 31, was on board the Flight LMI2933 which tragically came down near Medellin, Colombia in November 2016 as it took the Brazilian side to the final of the Copa Sudamericana, South America’s version of the Europa League.
He moved seats on the jet before it crashed and survived after being pulled from the wreckage.
The left-back was on loan at Chapecoense at the time and was one of just six survivors – including three players.
However, he is the only one still playing football after making a remarkable recovery from a back injury that required surgery in the aftermath of the crash which claimed the lives of 19 team-mates.
Chapecoense, who were awarded the Copa Sudamericana by finalists Atletico Nacional, struggled to deal with the effects of the crash, slipping each season until they were relegated in 2019.
But knowing promotion back to the top flight, the club had the chance to finish the season as champions.
Closest rivals America Mineiro beat Avai 2-1 leaving Chapecoense knowing they needed to beat Confianca by at least two goals in their final game of the season to finish top.
Anselmo Ramon gave the title-chasers an early lead but Isnairo Reis Silva Morais equalised ten minutes after the break.
Pedro Henrique Perotti restored Chapecoense’s lead in the 79th minute before they were awarded a penalty deep into injury time.
Striker Ramon stepped up and kept his composure with an ice-cool dink as the goalkeeper dived.
Ruschel, whose contract expires on Saturday, said: “First of all to thank God for this opportunity. First to have given us health and discernment to go through everything that happened here.
“I said I was proud to be part of this group. I don’t know if I will stay, my contract ends tomorrow. But I will take this group wherever I go.
“I am very happy to have written my name again in the history of the club. Some people from Chapeco need to learn to respect me. They need to learn to respect those who have history in the club and I do.”
He then dedicated the victory to the club’s former president who died due to coronavirus in December.
Ruschel added: “I will dedicate this victory to Paulo Magro, who unfortunately left us. We know how much he suffered with us, how much he tried to organise this club.”
