Off the wire
• UN chief calls for nuclear safety on 29th anniversary of Chernobyl disaster  • Britain deploys medical experts, dogs to quake-hit Nepal  • Feature: Barcelona's Handmade Festival helps decorate apartment  • Russia sends rescue team to quake-hit Nepal  • "Furious 7" leads North American box office for 4th week  • 2 killed in Burundi's protests against president's third term: witnesses  • ECOWAS observation mission praise Togo's presidential election  • Finland to dispatch rescue team to earthquake-hit Nepal  • Israeli army hit squad allegedly to perpetrate attack against soldiers  • Roundup: Moderate candidate becomes new Turkish Cypriot leader  
You are here: 　 Home

Vasco, Palmeiras take edge in Brazil finals

Xinhua, April 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

Rafael Silva came off the bench to score in second-half injury time as Vasco da Gama defeated Botafogo 1-0 in the first leg of Brazil's Rio state championship final on Sunday.

The game looked headed for a draw at the Maracana stadium before Bernardo's 93rd-minute free-kick somehow cleared Botafogo's defence and fell into the path of an onrushing Silva.

The 24-year-old, a 58th-minute substitute for Marcinho, then expertly lifted the ball over goalkeeper Renan to send Vasco's fans into wild celebrations.

Vasco need only a draw in next Sunday's return leg to win the title for a 23rd time.

Meanwhile, Palmeiras defeated 10-man Santos 1-0 in the first leg of the Sao Paulo state championship final.

Leandro Pereira scored the winner in the 29th minute at the Allianz Parque stadium.

Defender Paulo Ricardo was shown a straight red card just before the hour for a rash challenge on Leandro Pereira. Endi