The Gigante da Colina claims the crown after an excellent performance against Sporting de Portugal
Vasco da Gama claimed the crown as the Champions of this I Mundialito de Clubes. The Giagante da Colina managed to keep the Cup at home after an excellent performance against Sporting Clube de Portugal in the final of this historic competition. The Brazilian side managed to turn the situation around after the Portuguese opener and secured a solid distance in the score they would work fantastically to maintain until the final horn.
Fernando DDI would make things happen early in this thrilling final. With only 20 seconds gone by, the Lisboan number 9 scored his 10th goal in this Mundialito to sweep Sporting ahead. In front of the incredibly noisy crowd backing them, Vasco had to react, and they did so to turn the score around and become the ruler of the fixture thanks to Bruno Xavier and Rafinha.
After revolving the situation, the carioca would build a solid defense so that Sporting found it impossible to find any way to Salgueiro’s dominions. Pampero, the tournament’s MVP, widened the gap to make this distance a bit more comfortable. But that easiness would not last much, since Belchior would shorten the distance thanks to a free kick to keep the chase.
Vasco da Gama, though, were absolutely handling the game. Moving the ball quickly and precisely, reaching any lost ball before than the opponent, closing any crack on the rearguard,… In the last minute of the game, Betinho would secure the Brazilian triumph with the fourth hit for Vasco, who would not let the victory flee and claimed themselves as champions of this I Mundialito de Clubes.
Goals : 0-1 : Fernando DDI, min. 11 (1) ; 1-1 : Bruno Xavier, min. 3 (1) ; 2-1 : Rafinha, min. 2 (1) ; 3-1 : Pampero, min. 8 (3) ; 3-2 : Belchior, min. 7 (3) ; 4-2 : Betinho, min. 1 (3)
Extra time winner gives Flamengo the third place in the Mundialito
Clube Regatas Flamengo have finally achieved the third place in this Mundialito, after beating Lokomotiv Moscow in the 3rd/4th place final. In an amazingly leveled match, an extra time winner by defender Souza meant the bronze for the Rubro-Negro side. André, in turn, added a new goal to his 16-hit record to get even a wider distance in the highest place of the top-scorer chart.
On an unfortunate morning for the Russian side, the carioca managed always to equalize any advantage achieved by them. Maci opened the score in the seventh minute of the game, giving Lokomotiv a slight distance that would not be withdrawn during the whole first period. But right from the second time kick-off, Souza balanced things again. The Russian solved the situation really soon this time, and right in the same way. In the very next move, Leonov sent a missile in from the midfield to get the 1-2. André would manage the second equalizer for ‘Fla’, but Leonov would secure his team to get to the second break still ahead in the score.
The pattern was to be repeated in the third period, after another of the carioca stars, Anderson, scored for the 3-3. Again, Maci swept the Muscovite ahead with another of his brilliant moves, but Tavares would again equalize things. That last hit by the Brazilian lads would send the match to extra time. Things would change drastically in that extra period, since, this time, it was ‘Fla’ the ones to step ahead, thanks to a powerful left-foot shot by Souza. Unfortunately for Lokomotiv, they were not able to parallel the previous pattern, and did not manage to level things back, what left the Brazilians with the Bronze.
Goals: 0-1: Maci, min. 5 (1); 1-1: Souza, min. 11 (2); 1-2: Leonov, min. 11 (2) ; 2-2: André, min. 7 (2) ; 2-3 : Leonov, min. 1 (2) ; 3-3 : Anderson, min. 9 (3) ; 3-4 : Maci, min. 3 (3) ; 4-4 : Tavares, min. 2 (3) ; 5-4 : Souza, min. 2 (et)
Final standings:
1-Vasco da Gama
2-Sporting Portugal
3-Flamengo
4-Lokomotiv Moscow
MVP: Pampero (Vasco)
Best Goalkeeper: Graça (Sporting)
Top Scorer: André (Flamengo) – 16 goals
