Brazil II Division

 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B 1971, the second level of Brazilian National League, was played from September 12 to December 22, 1971. The competition had 23 clubs. The tournament consisted in a fusion of the already existing Torneio Centro-Sul and the Copa Norte-Nordeste, with the champions of each tournament facing off in the finals.

Villa Nova beat Remo on the finals, and was declared 1971 Brazilian Série B champions. The relegation and promotion system hadn't been implemented yet, so no clubs were promoted.

First phase

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification

1  Ferroviário-CE 6 4 1 1 12 7 +5 9 Qualified to the Second phase

2  Campinense 5 3 0 2 5 5 0 6

3  ABC 5 1 1 3 8 10 −2 3

4  Ferroviário-PE[a] 4 0 2 2 5 8 −3 2

Notes:

1.  Ferroviário-PE didn't play its last two matches, against Campinense and ABC.

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification

1  Itabaiana 4 2 1 1 7 5 2 5 Qualified to the Second phase

2  CRB 4 2 0 2 9 7 2 4

3  Náutico 4 1 1 2 5 9 −4 3

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification

1  Flamengo-PI 8 5 2 1 12 7 +5 12 Qualified to the Second phase

2  Sampaio Corrêa 8 5 1 2 16 8 +8 11

3  River 8 5 0 3 12 8 +4 10

4  Guarany de Sobral 8 2 2 4 8 12 −4 6

5  Maranhão 8 0 1 7 3 16 −13 1

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification

1  Remo 6 3 2 1 7 1 +6 8 Qualified to the Second phase

2  Tuna Luso 6 2 4 0 5 1 +4 8

3  Paysandu 6 1 3 2 3 5 −2 5

4  Sport Belém 6 1 1 4 2 10 −8 3

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification

1  Ponte Preta 4 2 2 0 6 1 +5 6 Qualified to the Second phase

2  América-SC 4 1 2 1 3 3 0 4

3  Londrina 4 0 2 2 3 8 −5 2

Second phase

Group 1

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification

1  Ponte Preta 2 2 0 0 5 0 +5 4 Qualified to the semifinals

2  Mixto[a] 2 0 0 2 0 5 −5 0

Notes:

1.  Mixto had previously received a bye to the Second phase

Group 2

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification

1  Villa Nova[a] 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 3 Qualified to the semifinals

2  Central-RJ[b] 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 1

Notes:

1.  Villa Nova had previously received a bye to the Second phase

2.  Central-RJ had previously received a bye to the Second phase

Group 3

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification

1  Remo 2 2 0 0 5 2 +3 4 Qualified to the semifinals

2  Rodoviária-AM[a] 2 0 0 2 2 5 −3 0

Notes:

1.  Rodoviária-AM had previously received a bye to the Second phase

Group 4

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification

1  Itabaiana 4 2 1 1 7 4 +3 5 Qualified to the semifinals

Back row from left: Esteves, Marcelino, Ivan Limeira, Hamilton Ayres, Eldo, Zé Maria Paiva;

Front: Zezinho Fumaça, Odacir, Simplício, Amilton Melo, Alísio

2  Ferroviário-CE 4 1 2 1 3 3 0 4

Standing from left: Edésio Leitão (técnico), Edson, Décio Costa, Dias, Matintim, Louro, Zé do Braga, Rodrigues Filho (presidente), Carlos Augusto (supervisor)

Crouching; Escurinho (massagista), Carlinhos, Gringo, Odacy, Nadinho, Iratan

3  Flamengo-PI 4 1 1 2 4 7 −3 3

Semifinals

Teams Scores Tie-breaker

Team 1 Points Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg 3rd leg

Itabaiana  1:3  Remo 0:0 0:2 —

Villa Nova[1]  2:2  Ponte Preta 1:0 0:1 1:1

Finals

15 December 1971

Remo	1 – 0	Villa Nova
Ernani

19 December 1971

Villa Nova	3 – 0	Remo
Dias  5' Jésum  22' Paulinho  46'

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22 December 1971

Villa Nova	2 – 1	Remo
Mário Lourenço  49' (pen.)  78' (pen.)		Cabecinha  9'

After 3 games Remo (Belem) lost the championship.

Villa Nova (Nova Lima) triumphed at the end. Unfortunately, going up to the first level of Brazilian football was not in the books... and not their fault: such were the 'rules'.