Duque de Caxias RJ came from behind to beat Artsul RJ 2-1 in a fiercely contested Campeonato Carioca C clash on Wednesday night, with a second-half brace turning the game on its head. The result strengthens Duque de Caxias’s push for promotion from the third tier of Rio de Janeiro state football.

Match overview

Played at the Estádio Romário de Souza Faria, the match began at a frantic pace. Artsul, knowing a positive result would boost their own campaign, pressed aggressively and were rewarded with an early lead. The visitors’ goal stunned the home crowd, but Duque de Caxias gradually wrestled back control of the midfield and began to create chances of their own before the break.

The second half was a different story. Duque de Caxias raised the tempo, pushed their full-backs higher, and pinned Artsul deep in their own half. The equaliser arrived midway through the half, and the winner followed late on as the home side’s persistence finally broke Artsul’s resistance. It was a victory built on patience, territorial control, and a clear shift in tactical approach after half-time.

Key moments

• 9th minute – 1-0 Artsul: A quick counter-attack down the left ended with a low finish across the goalkeeper, silencing the home support.
• 52nd minute – 1-1 Duque de Caxias: A swirling cross from the right was met with a glancing header at the near post, bringing the hosts level.
• 68th minute – Chance for Artsul: The visitors nearly restored their lead on the break, but a last-ditch tackle denied a clear shooting opportunity.
• 81st minute – 2-1 Duque de Caxias: A short corner routine created space at the edge of the box, and a powerful strike found the bottom corner via a slight deflection.
• 90+3 minutes – Late drama: Artsul threw everyone forward, but Duque de Caxias’s goalkeeper claimed a dangerous free-kick to secure the win.

Tactical story

Duque de Caxias started in a 4-2-3-1 but struggled with Artsul’s compact 4-4-2 in the opening half-hour. The visitors’ two forwards pressed the centre-backs effectively, forcing errors and creating the chance for the opening goal. The home management responded by pushing one of the defensive midfielders higher and encouraging the wide players to attack the space behind Artsul’s full-backs.

That adjustment changed the game. Duque de Caxias dominated possession after the interval, repeatedly working the ball into wide areas and delivering crosses into a crowded penalty area. Artsul defended bravely but were eventually undone by the sheer volume of deliveries and the quality of the set-piece routine that produced the winner. The visitors’ late surge was predictable but lacked the composure to find an equaliser.

Standout performers

The Duque de Caxias striker who scored the equaliser led the line superbly, holding up play and bringing others into the game. The left winger was a constant outlet in the second half, while the goalkeeper made a crucial save at 1-1 to keep the hosts level. For Artsul, the midfielder who broke up play repeatedly was their best performer, and the forward who scored the opener troubled the home defence throughout the first half.

Season impact and what’s next

The three points move Duque de Caxias into a stronger position in the Campeonato Carioca C standings, keeping their promotion ambitions firmly on track. Artsul remain competitive but will rue missed opportunities to take something from a game they led. The result underlines the importance of home form in a division where away victories are hard to come by, and Duque de Caxias will look to build on this comeback in their next outing.