After two seasons in Serie B purgatory, the traditional Carioca club returns to the elite of Brazilian soccer
On the last day of Serie B, Vasco beat Ituano (0-1) and sealed a promotion that resisted last season
Vasco da Gama, one of the historical figures of Brazilian football, returns to the Brasileirao Series A. He only achieved his goal on the last day of Serie B, which became a final against an Ituano who also had promotion options. The Cruzmaltinos won with a dramatic 0-1 and now they will accompany three other greats that return to the elite: Cruzeiro, now led by Ronaldo Fenomeno, Gremio, who have been able to rise to the first, and Bahía, who form part of the City Group that sealed its classification also on the last day.
The Basque thing has been a relief for the institution and its ‘crooked’ fanatic. There have been two seasons in a row in Serie B, which were about to become three, which would have been an economic and social blow for a club that has been converted into a sports limited company this season.
In Itú, the evening began hot with a confrontation between the radical ‘torcedores’ of the teams, that forced the Military Police to apply themselves thoroughly in the surroundings of the Novelli Júnior Stadium.
With the ball in play, the game quickly turned face for the Basques. The central Lucas Days he received a straight red card in the 5th minute for intercepting the ball with his hand as it entered the goal line. The subsequent penalty was converted by the veteran Nené, 41, who went through four LaLiga clubs, the last of which was Espanyol.
Although they entered the match with numerical superiority, Vasco, who was a bundle of nerves, was unable to control the game. The game was equalized in the second half when, Andrey Santos, who is on Barcelona’s agenda, saw the direct red. The midfielder, only 18 years old, hit the striker Aylon in a play apparently without danger and was severely punished.
The Cariocas, however, knew how to manage the situation against an Ituano with very tight fuel and ended up taking the three points that sealed the long-awaited promotion.
