Romario on target as Vasco triumph

13 April 2012

Romario scored his 20th goal of the tournament as Vasco da Gama beat Sao Caetano 3-1 in the replayed second leg of the Joao Havelange Cup final in Rio de Janeiro.

Vasco da Gama won 4-2 on aggregate. The second leg had been suspended last month after 168 fans were injured.

The game was cut short after 23 minutes when fighting at Vasco's over-crowded Sao Januaro stadium triggered panic and hundreds of fans were crushed against a fence which then collapsed.

The game was abandoned with the score 0-0 as fans were treated on the pitch.

Today, an inspired mid-field performance by Juninho Paulista brought the best out of Vasco after second division Sao Caetano had made the better start.

Paulista's neat interchange with Romario put Juninho Pernambuco in space and he scored to give Vasco the lead after 30 minutes.

Sao Caetano then drew on the battling qualities that had taken them to an unprecedented spot in the final to equalise through Adaoziho after 37 minutes. But Vasco struck two killer blows either side of half-time.

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