Vasco DA Gama turned a 1-0 halftime deficit into a 1-2 win that leaves them in the relegation zone
Vasco DA Gama trailed 1-0 at halftime and came back to win 1-2; Thiago Mendes was the standout with a rating of 8.2 and the result leaves the team 17th, in the 'Relegation - Serie B' zone.
Gremio
Vasco DA GamaThe comeback
Vasco DA Gama looked lost at halftime: Gremio led 1-0 after Mathias Villasanti's 39' goal. The final score was 1-2, a reversal built in the second half.
The turning point arrived around substitutions and a short burst of effectiveness: Thiago Mendes scored in the 76' (rating 8.2) and Facundo Colidio sealed the comeback at 80', with Bruno Duarte credited as the assister on the latter play.
What the numbers show
One revealing figure explains the comeback’s logic: Vasco posted a higher expected goals total (xG 1.52 vs Gremio's 0.68) and doubled Gremio's shots inside the box (12 to 6). Yet the visitors trailed at halftime — football finds its answers in short, decisive moments.
Some stats tell a balanced story: possession 51% for Gremio and 49% for Vasco, shots on target even at 5-5, but different outcomes; Léo Jardim made 4 saves and the difference came down to timing and finishing.
Why the match swung
The game moved in waves: Gremio controlled early play, Vasco grew into the match by the end of the first half, and the final segment belonged to the visitors (Vasco dominance in 75-90' and a pressure peak at 88'). The dossier records 12 momentum swings — a tussle of advances and retreats.
Both sides lined up 4-1-4-1, but Vasco’s changes (two at 55', more at 73'-78') reshaped their attack; two goals in four minutes reflect that tactical rebalancing. Thiago Mendes stands out as the match figure: highest rating (8.2) and the decisive strike.
What remains
In practical terms Vasco DA Gama sits 17th with 25 points inside the 'Relegation - Serie B' area, while Gremio remains 15th with 28 points. The historical ledger of the rivalry remains as before: 27 previous meetings (Gremio 13, Vasco DA Gama 7, 7 draws).
The lasting image is a scoreboard flipped in eight minutes: a small-scale epic where efficiency at the right instant turns a path through danger into temporary salvation.
