Vasco da Gama beat Internacional 5-1 on Friday night (28/11) at São Januário in the 36th round of the Brazilian Championship. The match was halted for over an hour due to heavy rains flooding the pitch. The win lifted the Rio team to 10th place with 45 points.
The match started in Vasco's favor, with the home side scoring in under two minutes. Andrés Gómez stole the ball from Aguirre in attack, entered the box, and finished for the opener. At the ninth minute, Paulo Henrique received a long ball on the right, cut inside, and passed to Rayan, who controlled and shot to make it 2-0.
With the score at 2-0, Internacional coach Ramón Díaz substituted Aguirre – who cried on the bench – with Ricardo Mathias. Late in the first half, at the 47th minute, Internacional pulled one back. Alan Rodríguez crossed after a Vasco clearance, and Mathias nodded in to make it 2-1.
After halftime, the teams stayed in the locker rooms for over an hour due to heavy rains flooding São Januário's pitch. Following more than an hour of referee assessments, play resumed after a 10-minute warm-up, despite objections from both teams about the field conditions.
In the second half, Rayan scored Vasco's third goal two minutes in, assisted by Andrés Gómez. At the 13th minute, Coutinho took a corner, Cauan Barros headed, goalkeeper Rochet saved, but Barros tapped in the rebound for 4-1. At the 21st minute, Paulo Henrique won the ball from Inter's defense and fed Nuno Moreira, who finished past Rochet for 5-1.
Vasco's goals came from Andrés Gómez, Rayan (twice), Cauan Barros, and Nuno Moreira. Ricardo Mathias scored Internacional's lone goal. The win gave Vasco 45 points and 10th place, while Inter remained on 41 points in 15th.
Vasco faces Mirassol on Tuesday (2/12) at 7pm in São Januário. Internacional plays São Paulo on Wednesday (3/12) at 8pm in Morumbi.