Brazilian side Chapecoense, who lost most of their squad in an air crash in 2016, was promoted to the first division on Tuesday after spending a year in the second tier.
Chape, as the club is known, beat state rival Figueirense 2-1 to guarantee a top-four finish in Serie B with four games remaining and promotion for the 2021 season.
Chapecoense lost almost all of their first team squad and several directors and backroom staffers when their plane heading to Colombia for the Copa Sudamericana final crashed into a hillside outside Medellin.
The disaster caught the attention of the global soccer community, 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.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.