A spectacular match took place at São Januário Stadium, resulting in a 2-2 draw between Vasco da Gama and Ceará, marking an exciting 23rd round in the Brasileirao.
Philippe Coutinho opened the scoring for Vasco with a stunning free kick in the 11th minute of the first half. However, Ceará responded quickly; Antonio Galeano leveled the game with a powerful shot that found the back of the net in the 16th minute. Later, Carlos Cuesta put Vasca in front again with a goal in the 79th minute, but Ceará’s Pedro Henrique delivered the final blow, equalizing in the 49th minute of the second half after a brilliant individual play.
Pedro Henrique received much acclaim for his exquisite finish, striking the ball into the lower left corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Overall, Pedro Henrique was the standout player of the match, scoring a goal and showcasing his skills. Philippe Coutinho also had a notable performance, netting a goal and attempting several shots on target.
On the tactical front, Vasco’s coach, Fernando Diniz Silva, deployed a formation of 4-5-1 with Léo Jardim in goal, a defensive line comprising Paulo Henrique, Robert Renan, Lucas Freitas, and José Luis Rodríguez, and a midfield featuring Mateus Carvalho, Cauan Barros, Rayan Vitor, Philippe Coutinho, and Nuno Moreira, while Pablo Vegetti led the attack.
Meanwhile, Ceará’s lineup, managed by Leonardo Rodrigues Condé, used a 4-3-3 formation, with Bruno Ferreira guarding the net. The backline included Fabiano, Marcos Victor, Willian Machado, and Matheus Bahia, while Diego, Richardson, and Lourenço controlled the midfield, and the attacking trio was made up of Antonio Galeano, Pedro Raúl, and Paulo Baya.
The match was officiated by Matheus Delgado Candançan at São Januário Stadium.
Looking ahead, Vasco will host Bahia in their next fixture, while Ceará will face Bahia at home. Vasco is set to engage in the storied rivalry known as the ‘clássico dos Milhões’, igniting passions among both teams’ supporters.
After this match, Vasco sits in 15th place in the league with 23 points, while Ceará is in 11th place with 27 points.
Substitutions for Vasco da Gama
45’ 2T – Mateus Carvalho out; Andres Gómez in.
64’ 2T – Lucas Freitas out; Carlos Cuesta in.
77’ 2T – Cauan Barros out; David in.
85’ 2T – Nuno Moreira out; Paulinho Paula in & Philippe Coutinho out; Lucas Oliveira in.
Yellow Cards for Vasco da Gama:
12’ 2T – Cauan Barros (Unsporting behavior), 19’ 2T – Lucas Freitas (Unsporting behavior) & 51’ 2T – Andres Gómez (Unsporting behavior).
Substitutions for Ceará
62’ 2T – Lourenço out; Rodriguinho in.
76’ 2T – Richardson out; Fernando Sobral in & Paulo Baya out; Fernandinho in.
83’ 2T – Pedro Raúl out; Pedro Henrique in & Antonio Galeano out; Vina in.
Yellow Cards for Ceará:
25’ 1T – Richardson (Unsporting behavior) & 47’ 2T – Fabiano (Unsporting behavior).
Red Card for Ceará:
26’ 2T – Rodriguinho (Direct red).