Diniz hails Vasco attack, rues missed chances: “So frustrating” | OneFootball

Despite Vasco’s overwhelming dominance in the 1-1 draw with Chapecoense on Thursday night at São Januário, coach Fernando Diniz left the press conference visibly frustrated with the result. The coach praised the team’s performance, highlighted their offensive volume, but lamented the numerous chances wasted throughout the match.

Vasco had 25 shots, with 16 on target, and created enough opportunities to secure a comfortable win. However, they left the field with just one goal, scored by Puma Rodríguez after an assist from Andrés Gómez.

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Fernando Diniz in Vasco vs Chapecoense — Photo: André Durão

Diniz values performance and highlights offensive volume

In his analysis of the match, Fernando Diniz was emphatic in separating performance from result. For the coach, Vasco’s performance was positive, even with the setback at home.

– Very frustrating because of the result. In terms of performance, no. It was a match where we had complete control, the team played well, created many goal-scoring chances, and offered very few to the opponent — he assessed.

According to the coach, fatigue explained some of the substitutions towards the end of the match, but did not affect the control of the game.

– In the end, it’s natural for some players to come off due to fatigue. Piton had cramps, Thiago asked to be subbed off. If not for that, neither would have left. Brenner was a tactical change, my choice. Nuno was also tired, and Marino came in by my decision — he explained.

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Mirassol vs Vasco da Gama in the 1st round of the Brazilian Championship held at Estádio Municipal José Maria de Campos Maia on January 29, 2026. Photos: Matheus Lima/Vasco.

“It’s very rare to miss so many chances in a Brazilian league match”

Diniz emphasized that the draw was directly due to a lack of efficiency in finishing and described the number of wasted chances as unusual.

– In terms of offensive production, it may have been the game with the most effective output since I’ve been here. Vasco missed seven big chances. It’s very rare for that to happen in a Brazilian Championship match — he highlighted.

The coach also compared the performance to recent routs by the team to illustrate the situation.

– Against Santos, we won 6-0 with eight shots on target. Against Inter, we won with five goals from seven shots on target. Today we had seven on target and scored only one, many of them from inside the box, clear chances. We can’t allow ourselves to draw and lose two points at São Januário the way we played today. It’s very frustrating because of the result — he concluded.

Asked what was missing for the ball to go in, Diniz was direct:

– Training is not lacking. The ball can go in at any moment, as it has in other matches. Today it just wouldn’t go in, and we really regret that.

With the draw, Vasco earned their first point in the 2026 Brasileirão and currently sits in 12th place. Their next fixture in the competition will be on Wednesday, again at São Januário, against Bahia for the third round.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.