Rio de Janeiro watched a continental opportunity slip away at the Maracanã as Vasco da Gama’s 26-year wait for an international final continued. A one-goal lead earned at La Bombonera had filled the club with belief, but Boca Juniors overturned it in a 3-1 Copa Sudamericana semi-final second leg, with Leandro Paredes’ late long-range effort sealing the Argentine side’s passage.
A lead lost before Vasco found its footing
Vasco arrived in front of a packed Maracanã carrying the narrow advantage from Buenos Aires, where Adson had been decisive. Pedro Emanuel retained Adson on the right and used David on the opposite flank, with Colídio and Andrés Gómez unavailable. Cuesta remained out, while Saldívia again partnered Robert Renan in central defence.
Boca, managed by Rodolfo Arruabarrena, made three changes from the first meeting. Villa and Merentiel, both influential after coming on in Argentina, were promoted to the starting side. Carlos Palacios and Enner Valencia began among the substitutes, Battaglia sat deepest in midfield instead of Alarcón, and the recently recovered Paredes was initially held back on the bench.
- Boca levelled the tie inside four minutes when Di Lollo beat Sosa to Blanco’s left-wing corner and headed in.
- The visitors had targeted their wide players from the opening whistle, with Villa particularly effective from the right and Blanco pushing forward from left-back.
- Robert Renan prevented an even earlier second goal by blocking Flores after another Boca attack.
- Vasco briefly had a route back through a transition, but Adson and Bruno Duarte failed to make the opportunity count.
The early damage reflected the contrast in control. Boca pressed with purpose and certainty, while Vasco struggled to pass out, regain possession high up the pitch or handle the intensity around their own penalty area. Sosa, normally a reliable distributor, found Delgado and Ascacibar closing him down, while Saldívia’s attempts to play forward too often handed the ball back.
Merentiel extends Boca’s advantage
Although Vasco gradually saw more of the ball, their possession came with little composure. Thiago Mendes twice tested the moments around Boca goalkeeper Montero’s area, shooting from the edge after a corner clearance and then heading wide from a Lescano delivery, but the hosts remained vulnerable.
Boca’s second goal came after a succession of Vasco mistakes. Villa released Merentiel on the counterattack, and the forward finished clinically to deepen the home side’s deficit before the interval.
Pedro Emanuel changed both wingers at half-time, introducing Marino Hinestroza and Brenner for Adson and David. The replacements were more secure in possession and more willing to engage, but Vasco still found it difficult to turn territorial pressure into clear chances. Paulo Henrique and Cuiabano provided width from deeper positions, yet attacks regularly broke down before the final pass or finish.
A brief revival, then Paredes’ decisive strike
Arruabarrena brought Paredes into the match before the 60-minute mark, replacing Battaglia. The midfielder’s arrival helped Boca slow the contest and circulate the ball under pressure. Vasco also lost Paulo Henrique, their most effective performer to that point, with Puma Rodriguez taking his place.
For a period, however, the Maracanã sensed a way back. Boca sat deeper, Vasco established themselves in the attacking third, and the home team finally found a reward in the 65th minute. Cuiabano’s cross was only partially cleared by Di Lollo, allowing Puma Rodriguez to strike first time and pull a goal back.
- Hinestroza and Brenner became more involved after the goal.
- Lescano and Robert Renan improved as Vasco pushed forward.
- Cuiabano repeatedly drove down the left, giving the hosts their most threatening outlet.
- Boca increasingly relied on Paredes to keep possession and remove momentum from the contest.
Arruabarrena later refreshed his forward line, sending on Velasco and Enner Valencia for Flores and Merentiel. Lescano threatened from outside the area, but Vasco could not find the goal that would have kept the tie alive and taken it to penalties.
Instead, Paredes ended the uncertainty. Given too much room in midfield, he struck from distance, and Léo Jardim failed to deal with the shot as it found the net. Spinelli replaced Lescano in Vasco’s final attempt to force a response, but Montero was not seriously tested again.
A continental door closes in Rio
Vasco’s performance fell far below the standard they had set in Buenos Aires. The club had travelled home from La Bombonera with the prospect of ending more than a quarter-century without an international final and perhaps opening a different chapter in its history. On this night, Boca’s sharper start, more assured management of possession and decisive late intervention from Paredes made their progress deserved.
