Rio de Janeiro, April 23 (IANS) Veteran midfielder Felipe scored a goal either side of the break to send Vasco da Gama into the Rio Cup final with a 3-2 victory over Flamengo.
Eder Luis’s 13th-minute strike Sunday cancelled out Vagner Love’s opener for Flamengo at the Engenhao stadium. Felipe then made it 2-1 when his shot from outside the area rebounded in off the post.
Felipe extended the margin three minutes after the restart with a coolly taken penalty before Kleberson’s 30m drive into the top-right corner made it 3-2, Xinhua reported.
Flamengo had several chances to take the match into extra-time but Vasco held on to secure a berth in the final against Botafogo next Sunday.
Meanwhile national champion Corinthians and Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Palmeiras were eliminated from the Sao Paulo championship, both suffering 2-3 losses to Ponte Preta and Guarani respectively.
Santos set up a semi-final showdown with Sao Paulo after Neymar scored one goal and set up another against Mogi Mirim.
