The decision will be decided over two matches, with the trip to São Paulo on Wednesday and the return to the Maracanã on Sunday.
THE Vasco is back in the final Brazilian Cup. Even though they were beaten 1-0 by Fluminense this Sunday, in MaracanaCruzmaltino’s team took the decision on penalties after a draw on the aggregate score and confirmed the ranking with a decisive performance of Leo Jardim.
With the standings, Vasco will face Corinthians in the decider. The São Paulo team eliminated Cruzeiro, also on penalties, after a 2-1 defeat in regulation time, in Neo Quimica Arena. The final will be played in two matches, with the first leg in São Paulo on Wednesday and the return match in Maracanã on Sunday.
The place in the final allowed Vasco to guarantee at least 33 million reais, the amount allocated to the finalist of the competition.
The result also prevents São Paulo from gaining a place at the Libertadores, which would happen if Cruzeiro or Fluminense win the title. Vasco and Corinthians are fighting for the last place in the continental tournament.
The team led by Fernando Diniz entered the field with the advantage gained in the first match, when they won 2-1, and adopted a more cautious stance, seeking to control spaces and explore transitions.
The first half was marked by a lot of midfield losses and victories, long balls and a high level of physical competition. The game was fast, with constant fouls and few spaces for clean construction, favoring those who made fewer mistakes.
Vasco managed to pose a danger with mid-range shots. Andrés Gómez and Rayan finished strongly, requiring two superb saves from Fábio, which kept Fluminense alive in the match and prevented the situation from becoming even more favorable to its rival.
On the other side, Fluminense adjusted their organization after a confusing start and began to put pressure on the right attacking side. Samuel Xavier and Canobbio created the main plays, and that’s where the French team found the way to the goal.
In a worked movement on the right, Samuel Xavier found Canobbio in depth. The Uruguayan crossed at ground level, Everaldo deflected it at the near post and hit the post. In the rest, Paulo Henrique tried to cut it, but he ended up getting in the way and sending it against his own trump cards.
After the break, Vasco showed improvement in his posture and managed to balance his actions. Fábio became more demanding, while Fluminense maintained territorial pressure, but with less aggressiveness in the finish.
The entry of Paulo Henrique Ganso gave more quality to Fluminense’s possession. The number 10 began to organize the play on the offensive field, with short passes and intelligence, including a bright screen that left Bernal in a position to finish, but the shot was weak.
The best chance of the match was at the feet of Serna. After a mistake by Vasco’s defense, the striker found himself facing Léo Jardim, but chose to attempt the dribble instead of finishing first, thus allowing the recovery and wasting the opportunity.
In the final minutes, both teams reduced their risks and began to manage the result. With an equal overall score, the classic naturally went to penalties, a scenario that confirmed the balance observed throughout the 180 minutes.
At the point of lime, Vasco was colder. Thiago Silva opened the series by transforming for Fluminense, but Vegetti stopped Léo Jardim, who saved with his foot. John Kennedy was also lost, putting Vasco back in the race. Rayan, Ganso, Victor Luis, Renê and Coutinho converted their kicks.
In the decisive sequence, Canobbio touched the middle and saw Léo Jardim stop to defend. In the last shot, Puma showed calm, scored and guaranteed Vasco the Copa do Brasil final after 14 years – the last one was in 2011, when the club were champions.
TECHNICAL SHEET
FLUMINENSE 1 (3) X (4) 0 VASCO
- FLUMINENSE: Fabio; Samuel Xavier (Guga), Thiago Silva, Freytes and Renê; Martinelli (Otávio), Nonato (Bernal) and Lucho Acosta (Paulo Henrique Ganso); Canobbio, Everaldo (John Kennedy) and Serna. Technical: Luis Zubeldia.
- VASCO: Léo Jardim; Paulo Henrique (Victor Luis), Carlos Cuesta, Robert Renan and Puma Rodriguez; Barros, Thiago Mendes (Hugo Moura) and Philippe Coutinho; Andrés Gómez (Matheus França), Rayan and Nuno Moreira (Vegetti). Technical: Fernando Diniz.
- GOALS – Paulo Henrique (against), 35 minutes after the start of the first half.
- YELLOW CARDS – Canobbio, Everaldo, Lucho Acosta, Nonato, Samuel Xavier and Serna (Fluminense); André Gómez, Carlos Cuesta and Paulo Henrique (Vasco)
- ARBITRATOR – Wilton Pereira Sampaio (GO)
- INCOME – R$6,789,476.00
- PUBLIC – 67,570 fans
- LOCATION – Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ).
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