Vasco da Gama defeat Flamengo in the final of the Campeonato Brasileiro in Guarujá
Fabinho da Costa’s Vascaínos claimed the Campeonato Brasileiro de Beach Soccer title on Sunday 3rd February after a thrilling penalty shootout against Flamengo.
This match between the two Brazilian powerhouses always promised to be a close affair, as their clash in the group stages had proved, when it went to penalties and was narrowly clinched in similar fashion to the final by Vasco.
After extra time ended with the scores all square at 2-2, there was only one way to settle the final.
Two well-converted penalties from Lukinha and Antônio clinched the trophy for Vasco, but equally important were the two acrobatic saves made by goalkeeper, Rafa Padilha, which meant that Flamengo were sunk with the final score at 2(2)-(0)2.
“We came here on the back of two competitions, Copa do Brasil and Libertadores, where we finished in third and second place.” said Vasco coach Fabinho da Costa.
“So, before this competition started, I said to the players that it was our turn to be the champions. We trained hard, we had a lot of effort and dedication from everyone involved.”
He added that “the merit belongs to everyone. To the ten players, the physiotherapist, the coordinator, the coaching staff that stayed in Rio, of the U-20 athletes. Everyone is important.”
Vasco’s heroic shot-stopper, Rafa Padilha, echoed the words of his coach after the game. “I train hard and do all I can, but we never get anything on our own. I was there between the posts and made the two saves in the penalty shootout, but I was helped by the strength and the desire of all my teammates.”
In the third-place play-off, Botafogo defeated Copa do Brasil champions, Sampaio Corrêa by seven goals to five.
Competition results in full:
30th January
14h – Flamengo (RJ) 7-4 Náutico (PE)
15h15 – Sampaio Correa (MA) 7-5 Joinville (SC)
16h30 – Vasco da Gama (RJ) 15-0 Osasco Audax (SP)
17h45 – Botafogo (RJ) 4(3)-(2)4 Vitória (BA)
31st January
14h – Joinville (SC) 5-7 Botafogo (RJ)
15h15 – Osasco Audax (SP) 0-11 Flamengo (RJ)
16h30 – Náutico (PE) 2-4 Vasco da Gama (RJ)
17h45 – Vitória (BA) 6-11 Sampaio Correa (MA)
1st February
14h – Náutico (PE) 11-2 Osasco Audax (SP)
15h15 – Vitória (BA) 6-9 Joinville (SC)
16h30 – Sampaio Correa (MA) 8-3 Botafogo (RJ)
17h45 – Vasco da Gama (RJ) 3(3)-(2)-3 Flamengo (RJ)
2nd February (semi-finals)
12h15 – Vasco da Gama (RJ) 7×4 Botafogo (RJ)
13h30 – Sampaio Corrêa (MA) 4×8 Flamengo (RJ
3rd February (3rd place play-off and FINAL)
13h – Botafogo (RJ) 7×5 Sampaio Corrêa (MA)
14h – VASCO DA GAMA (RJ) 2(2)x(0)2 Flamengo (RJ)
