It was with Dimitri Payet in the starting lineup that Vasco Da Gama began their Carioca championship semi-final against Nova Iguaçu on Sunday night (10), a team from Serie D, the equivalent of the 4th Brazilian division.
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Match summary
Even though they were considered favorites in a packed Maracanã, Vasco was unable to offer anything in the first half. Ineffective, Dimitri Payet’s teammates were exposed to the visitors’ counterattacks and were on the verge of conceding a goal several times in the first half in front of their supporters.
It was in the second half when Junio Santos Da Silva opened the scoring for Nova Iguaçu in the 50th minute.
The score would later change towards the end of the match when after a wonderfully executed free-kick by Dimitri Payet, Lucas Piton put the ball into the net for the equalizer. The score remained the same.
The second leg of the semi-final will be played next week (Tuesday 17) at 7 pm on Nova Iguaçu’s field, and if Payet wants to win the first title of his career, he and his teammates will have to deliver a performance worthy of the talent attributed to them.
The other semi-final sees Fluminense facing Flamengo, with an advantage taken today by Tite’s men with their 2-0 victory.
A Vasco – Flamengo final? We will find out next week.
