Prior to the start of the game, many expected Grêmio to easily claim a win on home turf and they did just that in style as well. In a game where they fully dominated proceedings, Tricolor ran riot against Vasco at the Arena on Sunday with a 4-0 victory. It could even have been five but for a disallowed goal by handball early on in the first half.
Diego Souza bagged a brace; one in the first and another in the second period. Also in the second half, a goal from Pinares and a late one from Lucas Silva completed the emphatic rout for Grêmio.
The game was a special one for Souza with his two goals taking him to a milestone for the club.
The forward saw his tally rise to 20 goals this season and in the process equal Everton Cebolinha’s tally from 2019 as the club’s top scorer in a full season since 2014.
For Vasco, the result was the opposite story. The pressure continues to pile on Ricardo Sá Pinto as his side are now without a win in six games. In their last two league games, they have now conceded eight goals and scored only one. The Copa Sudamericana exit at the hands of Defensa Y Justicia in the midst of this all makes the story even worse for Vasco.
After that victory, Grêmio now moves into the top-four of the Brazilian Championship with 40 points. The last time they did so this season was back in the second round. Vasco is still rooted in 17th place in the relegation zone with just 24 points.
For their next outing, Grêmio will welcome Santos to the Arena for the first quarterfinal game of the Libertadores. Vasco will only return to the pitch next Sunday against Fluminense.
