Athletico Paranaense edged past Brusque FC with a 1-0 victory in the Brazilian Cup on May 21, 2025, securing a narrow but crucial advantage in the knockout tie. A single goal separated the teams in a match where the top-flight side was expected to dominate but found stubborn resistance from their Serie B opponents. The only goal of the game came in the second half, when Athletico's experienced striker found space in the box to head home a precise cross from the right flank. Brusque FC defended resolutely for large periods and even threatened on the counter-attack, forcing the Athletico goalkeeper into a vital save late in the match. The match result puts Athletico Paranaense in a strong position to advance to the next round, though the slender margin leaves the tie slightly open for the second leg. The Athletico manager acknowledged the difficulty of the match and praised Brusque's organization, while the Brusque coach took pride in his team's performance against a top-tier opponent and vowed to fight until the end in the return fixture.