It took 15 rounds, but Vasco finally kept a clean sheet in the current Brazilian Championship and did their homework by defeating Athletico-PR 1-0 on Sunday night at São Januário. The match illustrates Renato Gaúcho’s knack for picking up points in tough encounters, even without standout displays.
A curious statistic also highlights the significance of a defense that had conceded 30 goals in 29 matches this year finally avoiding being breached. Vasco hadn’t secured a victory by the classic 1-0 scoreline in 397 days, dating back to Fábio Carille’s tenure when they beat Puerto Cabello on April 8 last year.
Renato Gaúcho’s team earned three crucial points in a tightly packed Brasileirão, characterized by remarkable balance in the standings. Vasco even slipped into the relegation zone during the round due to other results, but the victory propelled them close to the Conmebol Libertadores qualification zone.
Every point is highly valuable. Under Renato, Vasco has maintained a top-four points average since his arrival. Their record against the top five teams is even more impressive: now four wins and one draw in the current Brazilian Championship.
“The victory seemed very fair to me,” celebrated João Almirante, speaking on the fan channel.
**The Match**
Despite late scares, the result was deserved. Renato opted for Spinelli as the center-forward to increase aerial presence and attacking strength against a depleted Athletico side in Rio. The plan nearly paid off early on, as Vasco imposed themselves and created good chances, the best being a close-range header from the Argentine that the goalkeeper saved on the line.
The team maintained a good buildup rhythm in the first half but faced an open game from Athletico, who accelerated attacks and exploited Vasco’s defensive disorganization. Vasco struggled to set their marking with Rojas and Thiago Mendes in front of the area, while Hugo Moura—who had a great game—had to cover many spaces at the edge of the box.
After the early high intensity, Vasco naturally slowed down, allowing Athletico to balance the play. However, the Rio side scored a beautiful goal through Thiago Mendes and Puma Rodríguez in the 36th minute. After the goal, Athletico-PR tried to respond but lacked finishing efficiency.
Vasco was not interested in an open game in the second half. They controlled large portions of possession, often in their own defensive third, leading to a somewhat sleepy rhythm. Athletico rarely threatened Léo Jardim’s goal, with their best chance coming from a long-range shot by Luiz Gustavo that hit the crossbar.
In the final minutes, however, the Paraná team pressed and scared the São Januário crowd with a last-minute header from Aguirre that shaved the post. Moments earlier, Brenner had a chance to extend the lead but missed a one-on-one opportunity.
The fans’ anxiety is further justified by Vasco’s recent history of dropping important points in the Brasileirão due to late goals conceded. But this time, the team finally kept a clean sheet to reaffirm their upward momentum this season.