Athletico Paranaense B Earn Convincing 3-1 Away Win at Londrina in Taca FPF

Athletico Paranaense B delivered one of their most complete performances of the Taca FPF campaign on Sunday night, defeating Londrina PR 3-1 at the Estádio do Café. The young visitors combined early aggression with smart game management, scoring once in the first half and then pulling away after Londrina had briefly restored parity. The result gives Athletico Paranaense B valuable momentum in the state cup, while Londrina PR are left to reflect on a night of missed opportunities and defensive lapses.

Match Overview

Londrina PR began the match with intent, pushing their full-backs high and looking to create overloads on the flanks. The home side enjoyed the better of the opening possession, but Athletico Paranaense B’s compact mid-block made it difficult for Londrina to find clean entries into the penalty area. That pressure told in the 14th minute when Athletico’s Ruan pounced on a loose pass near the edge of the box and fired a low finish beyond the Londrina goalkeeper.

The goal changed the rhythm of the contest. Londrina continued to probe, with captain Rafael Costa dropping deeper to link play, but Athletico Paranaense B remained dangerous in transition. The visitors nearly doubled their lead before half-time, only for a last-ditch block to deny Pedro Henrique after a swift counter-attack.

Londrina finally found their equaliser in the 52nd minute. A well-delivered corner from the right was met by Rafael Costa, whose header looped into the far corner to make it 1-1 and lift the home crowd. For a brief spell, Londrina looked the more likely side to take control, but Athletico Paranaense B responded with composure rather than panic.

Key Moments

• 14’ – Goal, Athletico Paranaense B: Ruan capitalises on a loose ball and finishes low from the edge of the area.
• 31’ – Londrina chance: Diego Silva curls an effort just wide after a patient build-up.
• 52’ – Goal, Londrina PR: Rafael Costa heads home a corner to level the score at 1-1.
• 71’ – Goal, Athletico Paranaense B: Pedro Henrique restores the lead with a composed finish at the end of a fast break.
• 88’ – Goal, Athletico Paranaense B: Lucas Gabriel seals the win after being played through by Ruan.
• 90+3’ – Save: Athletico goalkeeper Matheus reacts sharply to deny Londrina a late consolation.

Tactical Story

Athletico Paranaense B set up in a flexible 4-2-3-1 and were happy to concede possession in harmless areas. Their midfield duo screened the back four effectively, forcing Londrina’s creative players to receive the ball with their backs to goal. When turnovers occurred, Athletico attacked quickly through the channels, with Ruan and Pedro Henrique causing constant problems with their movement.

Londrina PR, by contrast, built patiently through a 4-3-3 but struggled to turn territorial dominance into clear chances. Their equaliser came from a set piece rather than open play, and after pushing extra bodies forward in search of a second goal, they left themselves exposed to the counter-attack. Athletico Paranaense B’s substitutions also made a difference, adding fresh legs in wide areas and helping the visitors close out the match professionally.

Standout Performers

Ruan was the catalyst for Athletico Paranaense B, scoring the opener and providing the assist for the third goal. Pedro Henrique’s winning strike was a moment of real quality, while Lucas Gabriel’s late goal underlined the visitors’ ruthlessness on the break. For Londrina PR, Rafael Costa was the brightest spark, combining leadership with a well-taken equaliser, but the home side lacked the same cutting edge in the final third.

What It Means

The victory strengthens Athletico Paranaense B’s position in the Taca FPF and gives their young squad another confidence-building result in a demanding state competition. Londrina PR, meanwhile, will need to improve their transition defence and take more of the chances their possession creates. On this evidence, Athletico Paranaense B look like a side capable of making a serious run in the tournament, while Londrina must regroup quickly before their next fixture.