Vasco’s Gritty Triumph: Pablo Vegetti Shines as Team Advances in Copa do Brasil

Posted at 09h15 | 12 Sep 2024 | writing team
Vasco advances in a night of sweat, cold blood, Léo Jardim, and Pablo Vegetti

Photo credit: Reproduction
Pablo Vegetti was the hero of Vasco

By Tébaro Schmidt – ge

The Vasco “copped” the Athletico on Wednesday night at the Ligga Arena. There is no better definition. In a match where perspiration surpassed inspiration, with only two shots on target (Pablo Vegetti’s goal was one of them), saves from Léo Jardim, and a perfect performance in penalty kicks, the team is through to the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil.

Under the command of Rafael Paiva, Vasco shows itself to be a team with the essence of a cup fighter. If the goal in Curitiba was not to concede goals, the team kept its head together after conceding two and again knew how to adapt to the circumstances of the match. Not even the expulsion of Rayan at 41 minutes of the first half, in a disproportionate challenge with Esquivel, shook the team.

With one man down and trailing 2-0, just when Athletico could turn the knife, Vasco found the net with Vegetti. Lucas Piton did the favor of lifting the ball to the far post. The rest was the merit of the Argentine striker, who overpowered Esquivel in the aerial duel to score his 18th goal of the season. With six, he is the top scorer of the Copa do Brasil.

Pablo Vegetti from Vasco celebrates a goal against Athletico — Photo: Matheus Lima/Vasco

Léo Jardim comes into action from that moment onward. The goalkeeper had already been tested in the first half, but less than a minute into the second, he executed what was probably the most difficult save of the match, a cross shot from Cuello he saved with a reflex. In the next minute, he shut down the goal with a header from Mastriani. Then, another save. And another. And one more. Finally, he jumped to save Cannobio’s penalty kick.

With 2-1 on the scoreboard, Vasco led the match to a penalty shootout, where they have felt horrifyingly comfortable this season. Sforza, Puma Rodríguez, Mateus Carvalho, and Victor Luís kept their cool and outwitted goalkeeper Mycael. The decisive kick, as could not be different, was left to Vegetti. Just as had happened in the qualifications against Água Santa and Fortaleza in the competition, the team did not waste a single attempt.

– We had to control the intensity and maintain the defensive strategy. But we knew that in the end of the game, we could bring in a player to help us in the penalties. Puma was one of them. It’s a puzzle to solve under tremendous pressure, and we couldn’t concede a goal at the end to keep ourselves alive – explained Rafael Paiva after the match.

“We know Léo’s quality too; it’s hard for him to go five penalties without saving one. So we were very confident that we would qualify,” he added.

Vasco players celebrate a goal against Athletico at the Ligga Arena — Photo: Matheus Lima/Vasco

The performances of Léo Jardim and Vegetti in Curitiba reinforce the importance of players of this level in a knockout confrontation of the Copa do Brasil. The two played excellently. But the spot in the semifinal also passed through the tackles of Hugo Moura, the balls cleared by Maicon inside the box, and the sweat of the players who ran the whole time. The fans are right to demand signings and technically better performances, without the need to go through hardships. But they cannot complain about a lack of commitment.

And it doesn’t matter at all if Athletico had 25 shots during the entire game, eight of them on target, or 68% possession of the ball. Football, especially in knockout competitions, rewards the more efficient team. And the most efficient team in the matchup was Vasco.

The qualification, of course, does not erase the deficiencies demonstrated in Curitiba. The team, for example, had tremendous difficulty tracking Athletico’s switch of sides and took a while to balance the defense – the two conceded goals came from behind Piton. Even though he didn’t play badly while he was on the field, Payet needs to be decisive again with goals and assists and cannot miss an opportunity like the one at 37 minutes of the first half, when Vasco was already trailing 2-0. In a reckless play, Rayan almost threw it all away.

But corrections will be made in the coming days of work. For now, Vasco sent the message that it knows how to play the Copa do Brasil and that it didn’t get far by chance.