Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Vasco’s thrilling victory marks the return of the fans and gives hope for the fight against relegation
In a triumphant return to São Januário, Vasco da Gama delighted their long-awaited fans with a resounding 5-1 victory over Coritiba in the 24th round of the Brazilian Championship. The electrifying atmosphere of the stadium, filled to capacity in just four hours after tickets went on sale, contributed to the euphoria of the occasion.
Vasco’s goals were scored by unlikely heroes: Zé Gabriel opened the scoring for the club, Rossi celebrated his first goal on his return and Gabriel Pec, the season’s top scorer, netted the winner. However, it was Argentinian striker Vegetti who stole the limelight with two goals, firmly establishing himself as Vasco’s main attacking player.
Frenchman Dimitri Payet, making his first-team debut, played a key role, providing two crucial assists and showing his potential to change the game for Ramón Díaz’s side as he continues to develop.
With this inspiring achievement, Vasco have reached 23 points, just two away from the safety zone, and with a win against América-MG on Monday, they can escape the relegation zone, signaling a resurgence in the fight for survival. Rossi, who has become beloved by Vasco fans, and the ever-impressive Vegetti are emerging as key figures in this story of redemption, while the return of the fans adds a powerful dimension to the club’s resurgence in the Campeonato Brasileiro.
Drama at the end: Athletico-PR beat Internacional 2-1
In a thrilling encounter in the Brazilian Championship on Thursday night, Athletico-PR won a dramatic 2-1 victory over Internacional in the 24th round at the Arena da Liga in Curitiba. Goals from Erick and Alex Santana ensured Furacão’s victory, while De Pena netted for the Colorados.
The result lifted Athletico into the coveted G-6 group, currently in sixth place with 40 points, ahead of Fortaleza and Flamengo. On the other hand, Internacional, with an almost entirely reserve team to preserve players for the upcoming Libertadores semi-final against Fluminense, are in 12th place with 29 points.
The match was marred by early setbacks for Athletico, who had to make two substitutions due to injuries in the first ten minutes. A particular concern was the injury to 18-year-old striker Vitor Roque, who had to leave the field after a collision with Nico Hernández.
In a very tight second half, both teams had chances, hitting the crossbar at one point. However, it was the incredible goals from Erick, after a corner kick, and Alex Santana, with a header, after a cross from Canobbio, that secured Athletico-PR’s victory in the last minutes of the match. The result left fans on the edge of their seats, emphasizing the unpredictability and emotion of Brazilian soccer.
Grêmio beat Palmeiras 1-0 in thrilling encounter
In a thrilling encounter on Thursday night, Grêmio secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Palmeiras in the 24th round of the Brazilian Championship, igniting the passion of the fans at the Arena in Porto Alegre. The win moved Grêmio up to third place in the league standings, just one point behind second-placed Palmeiras and eight points behind leaders Botafogo.
The excitement of the match began right from the start, when Suárez almost scored with a spectacular volley in the fourth minute. However, it was João Pedro who opened the scoring for Grêmio in the ninth minute, after a well-executed assist from Luisito.
Despite Villasanti receiving his second yellow card in the 86th minute, leaving Gremio short-handed, Palmeiras were unable to snatch a draw. Although there was a chance. In the 97th minute, Gustavo Gomez hit the crossbar from a corner kick.