The struggling side needed victory to stave off relegation but blew a 2-0 lead after a moment of madness from defender Rodrigo.
The centre-back took the game into his own hands, quite literally, when he put his fingers in buttocks of Vitoria's Colombian striker Santiago Trellez.
Rodrigo was duly sent off after the brain snap and single handedly cost his side their place in the Brazilian Serie A with Vitoria going on to score three second half goals.
Referee Ricardo Marques Ribeiro said in his match report: "I sent off ... Rodrigo ... after I was informed by the fourth official that the athlete had introduced his middle finger twice between the buttocks of his adversary number 22, Santiago Trellez."
With eight minutes remaining in the match and their side on the brink of relegation trailing 3-2, Ponte Preta's fans frustrations boiled over as they turned on their players and invaded the pitch.
The game was immediately abandoned with Vitoria deemed the winners and Ponte Preta relegated from the top flight of Brazilian football.
