Vasco rest key men for the Santa Fe decider
Pedro Emanuel is expected to leave part of his starting XI out against Independiente Santa Fé on Tuesday at São Januário (1). The tie is level after a goalless first leg, so it is win or go out, with a place in the Copa Sul-Americana semi-finals on the line (1). Kick-off is 19:00 Brasília time (4). Names in the frame to be rested include Léo Jardim, Puma Rodríguez, Cuesta, Saldivia, Lucas Freitas, Lucas Piton, Barros, Ramon Rique, Thiago Mendes, Rojas, Marino, Bruno Duarte, Spinelli, Nuno Moreira, Philippe Coutinho and Brenner (1).
Grêmio 1–2 Vasco: the comeback in Porto Alegre
Your team went behind and still won it in Porto Alegre. Thiago Mendes and Colidio scored as Vasco turned a 1–0 deficit into a 2–1 win over Grêmio (2) (3). It was a direct rival in the relegation fight, and three points away from home is exactly the kind of result that matters in that scrap (2). Thiago Mendes afterwards: "Foi uma grande vitória. A determinação de todos hoje. Infelizmente saímos atrás no placar, mas buscamos a virada" (2).
No guaranteed shirts under Pedro Emanuel
Eleven foreign players in the squad, and the coach is making the pecking order plain. Pedro Emanuel on the rotation: "Não há lugares garantidos. Quem contribuir mais para a equipe vai jogar mais vezes" (3) (1). The CBF limit forces foreign cuts across the season, and he says the choices follow performance, not reputation (3).
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R$65m lands, and a big date on 25 September
Vasco have received R$65m as part of a R$150m DIP loan from Almirante Participações (4). The money covers creditors from the judicial recovery, collective plans at the Câmara Nacional de Resolução de Disputas, signings and the wage bill (4). A court hearing on the sale of 90% of the club's new SAF has been set for 25 September at 14:00 (4).
Coutinho presented at Santos after Neymar's call
Philippe Coutinho has signed for Santos, seven months after leaving Vasco, after an invite from Neymar (5) (6). His own line on the return to Rio: "Ganhava US$ 10 milhões limpos no Catar e abri mão para voltar ao Vasco" (5) (6). Souza, his former teammate, pushed back hard on the criticism: "Milhões e milhões ficaram para o Vasco" (5).
The boos that ended it at São Januário
Coutinho says the noise at home pushed him out. He asked to terminate after being jeered at half-time against Volta Redonda on 14 February, Carnival Saturday (6). Losing 0–1 to Bahia was part of that stretch of nights at São Januário (6). Coutinho: "O estádio inteiro gritando meu nome, me xingando, pedindo minha saída. E aquilo ali foi muito duro" (6).
Where you stand
Fifth in Group A on 46 points from 29 games, +7 goal difference. The Grêmio win kept the cushion above the drop zone breathing room rather than comfort. Now the focus swings to the Sul-Americana and a semi-final spot Vasco have not reached since 2011 (4).
