Spinelli decisive, Andrés Gómez impresses and Cuesta struggles as Vasco win on penalties | OneFootball

Vasco squeezed past Volta Redonda on penalties in the Campeonato Carioca quarter-finals, with Pablo Spinelli levelling late and Puma Rodríguez converting the decisive kick to send them through.

Volta Redonda struck first when Vasco’s high line was breached by a long pass, Carlos Cuesta was caught out and could not deal with Ygor Catatau’s run. According to Globo.com, Cuesta received the lowest mark, while Andrés Gómez was Vasco’s most consistent threat across the 90 minutes.

Fernando Diniz changed it at half-time, withdrawing Lucas Piton, Philippe Coutinho and Barros for Paulo Henrique, Tchê Tchê and Johan Rojas. Rojas injected tempo and should have scored from a Gómez rebound. Paulo Henrique offered more thrust on the right and Brenner later made way for David.

Spinelli replaced Nuno Moreira and provided the penalty-box presence Vasco had lacked, heading in a Cuesta cross to equalise. In the shootout, Spinelli, Rojas, Tchê Tchê and David converted, and Rodríguez sealed progression with the clinching kick.

Léo Jardim was largely untroubled but a poor pass gifted Volta Redonda a chance. Robert Renan had mixed moments, Brenner drifted deep and lacked penalty-area impact, and Rodríguez missed two late chances. Vasco improved after the changes, yet Diniz still faced abuse despite the shootout victory.

Source: Globo.com