Vasco da Gama have one foot in the Copa do Brasil fourth round going into their match with Boavista on Wednesday. The Black Shirts were relegated from Serie A last season and are hoping for a much better 2021.
Boavista play their club football in the Campeonato Carioca which is further down the soccer pyramid in Brazil than Serie B.
The Big Green of Saquarema are aiming to surprise the more established Vasco da Gama, something they didn’t do in the first leg of the third round of the Copa do Brasil.
The first leg was high on attacking football but just one goal was scored. Vasco da Gama’s Martin Sarrafiore tallied the only goal of the game in the 45th minute to give the Black Shirts the win.
Boavista’s Lucas da Sivla was sent off in the 81st minute and will miss the second leg of the cup tournament. Vasco da Gama dominated much of the game with 69% possession and 16 shots.
Only two of those shots hit the target, however. In comparison, Boavista tallied 10 shots with six hitting the target in spite of the 1-0 loss.
Vasco da Gama have played 20 matches in 2021 already in all competitions. They have posted a record of 8W-7D-5L. They have not yet hit their stride in terms of momentum.
After winning 1-0 in the first leg versus Boavista, Vasco da Gama drew 1-1 with Ponte Preta in Serie B play. They have outscored opponents in all competitions by a count of 29 to 23.
Boavista have posted a record of 4W-6D-5L this season in all competitions. They have a zero-goal difference having scored 18 times and conceded 18 goals.
Each of Boavista’s last five matches in all competitions finished without a win. It is likely they will suffer a second straight defeat in the Copa do Brasil to Vasco da Gama this week in the second leg.
The Brazil clubs have a long history against each other. Vasco da Gama are unbeaten in 11 straight matches versus Boavista. Nine of those 11 matches ended with Vasco da Gama posting a victory.
The teams have already met twice in 2021 with Vasco da Gama posting a win and a draw. The Black Shirts should post another victory against their state rival and achieve passage into the Copa do Brasil fourth round.
Like the first leg, it should be a low-scoring game with under 2.5 goals.