Reserves Throttled by Vasco: 4-0

For the second week in a row, Grêmio’s reserves were routed by a Carioca club that used the 3 points to move into first place in the Brazilian Championship. Last week, it was Botafogo. Now, Vasco (11 pts) assumes the top position in the standings after throttling the Tricolor 4-0 at São Januário. Grêmio (6 pts), whose starters were not even present at the game, dropped in to 14th place and has the dubious honor of the competition’s worst offense: just three goals in five games. The Tricolor will now focus on Game 1 of the Libertadores Cup finals before returning to Brazilian Championship action next Sunday.

It was evident from the start that Grêmio was not mentally into this game. The reserves lacked the heart and intensity that the starters have displayed time and again. Things began to unravel in the 15th when André Dias was taken down by Nunes inside the area. Romário converted the penalty kick to notch the 1,001st goal of his career: Vasco, 1-0. Grêmio had a chance to tie in the 29th when Bruno Teles sent a free kick into the area to a wide open Pereira. The defender, however, headed the ball wide. In the 42nd, it was Vasco who had a free kick in their favor, with Abedi finding a wide open André Dias for the score: Vasco, 2-0. Four minutes later, in stoppage time, Romário broke into the area and, after shaking his defender, scored career goal 1002: Vasco, 3-0.

The second half was delayed by an hour due to a problem with the stadium lighting. Unfortunately for Grêmio, the game eventually was restarted. The Tricolor did have a chance to get on the board in the 12th, but after trapping the ball with his chest inside the area, Amoroso shot high and over the crossbar. Seven minutes later, Thiago Marciel broke into the area diagonally from the right, leavening a trail of beaten defenders behind him. He then passed to Abedi inside the small area to add an exclamation point to the already impressive victory: Vasco, 4-0. André Dias had a chance at a fifth in the 28th but Pereira managed a clutch steal in front of the goal.

Mano Menezes comments at the end of the game spoke volumes for his club’s poor performance. “We played today out of obligation,” he said, referring to his team’s focus on the Libertadores Cup finals this Wednesday. Hopefully, the starters will fare much better in Argentina than the reserves did today. Otherwise, the return leg in Porto Alegre will be merely an exhibition for Boca’s coronation.

Vasco (4)	Grêmio (0)
Romário (15' PK) André Dias (42') Romário (46+') Abedi (64')
Amaral (81')	Edmílson (48')
Venue:  São Januário Stadium, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Vasco: Sílvio Luiz; Thiago Maciel, Emiliano Dudar, Jorge Luiz and Guilherme; Amaral, Roberto Lopes (Júnior, 67'), Abedi (Dario Conca, 72') and Renato; André Dias (Martin Garcia, 79') and Romário. Coach: Celso Roth	Grêmio: Galatto; Jucemar, Pereira, Nunes and Bruno Telles; Edmílson, William Magrão (Thiego, HT), Lucas (Itaqui, 79') and Ramón; Amoroso and Kelly (Éverton, 63'). Coach: Mano Menezes