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Vasco beat Palmeiras to win first-ever Brasileiro U20 title
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- Vasco beat Palmeiras to win first-ever Brasileiro U20 title
Vasco beat Palmeiras to win first-ever Brasileiro U20 title
Andrey Fernandes celebrates the goal he scored Credits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF
Vasco are the Brazilian U-20 champions. After losing the first leg of the final 1-0 at São Januário, the Cruz-Maltino side went to Nubank Parque this Friday (4), beat Palmeiras 2-0, and turned the tie around to win the national title. The goals were scored by forward Andrey Fernandes.
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The title is Vasco's first ever in the competition. In their first Brazilian U-20 Championship final, the Rio de Janeiro side managed to overturn the first-leg deficit and lift the trophy against the reigning two-time champions. The achievement crowns a campaign marked by defensive consistency and resilience in decisive knockout moments.
Vasco's campaign ended with 40 goals scored in 24 matches, but it was in defensive consistency that the team found one of its main strengths. With only 23 goals conceded, they had the best defense in the competition and confirmed that solidity in the final by neutralizing Palmeiras' attempts and protecting their lead until the final whistle.
THE MATCH
Vasco started the match trying to impose themselves and had the first chance from a corner kick in the second minute. Palmeiras responded quickly and almost equalized in the fifth minute. Heittor received the ball on the left, broke into the box, but was stopped by Wanyson just as he was about to shoot.
The final was played at Nubank Parque Credits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF
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Vasco's response came in the very next minute and it was clinical. After a move built down the right flank, Andrey Fernandes received the ball inside the box, controlled it, and struck firmly across goal. The ball even hit the post before ending up in the back of the net.
The goal changed the outlook of the final, but Palmeiras did not take long to regain territorial control. In the 25th minute, Allan Barcellos had to make a change: Felipe Teresa felt a muscular problem and left the field, with Victor Gabriel coming on.
As time went on, Palmeiras' pressure increased. Benedetti even threatened with a header over the bar, but the play was stopped for offside. In the 32nd minute, Andrey Fernandes was shown a yellow card for stopping a Palmeiras counterattack.
Palmeiras began to threaten the Vasco penalty area more frequently. In the 34th minute, Erick Belé had a dangerous free kick at the edge of the box, but hit the wall. In the next minute, Fabiano took another free kick directly at goal, and the Vasco defense deflected it out for a corner. From the ensuing set piece, Phillipe Gabriel punched the ball clear and dealt with the danger.
The match was fiercely contested Credits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF
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In the 38th minute came Palmeiras' best spell. First, Erick Belé curled in a quality free kick and forced Phillipe Gabriel into a great save to prevent the equalizer. Right after that, following another corner, Luis Saboia picked up the loose ball and shot just wide.
In the closing minutes of the first half, Palmeiras kept moving the ball around in the attacking half, while Vasco tried to protect the lead they had built early on.
Second half
Palmeiras came back from the break trying to respond. In the ninth minute, Erick Belé received the ball on the right, cut onto his left foot, and took a shot, but mishit it and sent the ball over the bar. Shortly after, Heittor went down inside the box and appealed for a penalty, but the referee waved play on. There was no contact from the Vasco defender in the incident.
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In the 11th minute, Palmeiras had another good chance. From a short corner on the right, Vinicius floated the ball to the near post, where Heittor appeared to glance it with his head. The effort went close, but drifted behind for a goal kick.
Just when Palmeiras seemed to be gaining ground in search of an equalizer, Vasco struck again. In the 13th minute, a cross from the right found Bruno Lopes at the far post. Almost on the byline, the forward managed to knock the ball back across goal. Andrey Fernandes beat Benedetti in the air and, despite being physically disadvantaged in the duel, powered home a header for his second goal of the match.
The match was played at an intense pace, with Palmeiras pushing forward and Vasco responding whenever they found space. After taking the lead, the Rio side had to withstand Palmeiras' pressure at different moments, but managed to stay organized and control the advantage they had built over the course of the final.
In the closing minutes, Palmeiras threw themselves forward in search of a comeback, but could not find a way through the Vasco defense. The Rio side withstood the pressure, kept the score at 2-0, and completed the comeback in the final to win the Brazilian U-20 Championship for the first time.
Vasco players and coaching staff Credits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF
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MATCH REPORT
PALMEIRAS 0 X 2 VASCO
Brazilian U-20 Championship — Final
Date:09/04/2026 (Friday)
Time:7 p.m.
Venue: Nubank Parque, in São Paulo (SP)
Referee:Joao Paulo Cunha Ribeiro (GO)
Assistant referees: Igor Alves de Moraes (GO) and Lucas Cunha Passaglia (GO)
Fourth official: Gustavo Alencar Rodrigues (SP)
VAR:Leonardo Rotondo Pinto (MG)
Goals:Andrey Fernandes (2) (Vasco)
Yellow cards:Andrey Fernandes and Bruno Lopes (Vasco); Fabiano, Kidani and Vinicius (Palmeiras)
Palmeiras:Kauan Lima; Luis Saboia (João Gabriel), Pimenta, Benedetti and João Paulo (Niakson); André Lucas (Kidani), Felipe Teresa (Victor Gabriel) and Vinicius; Heittor, Erick Belé and Fabiano. Head coach: Allan Barcellos.
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Vasco: Phillipe Gabriel; Lucas Melim (Breno Sales), Wanyson, Bruno André and Avellar (Luís Felipe); Samuel (Léo Félix), Gustavo Guimarães and Zuccarello; Andrey Fernandes (Diego Minete), Juninho (Alison) and Bruno Lopes (Bernardo). Head coach: Matheus Curopos.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
