Corinthians have edge over Vasco in key Maracanã clashes

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Central do Timão

·21 December 2025

Corinthians have edge over Vasco in key Maracanã clashes

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On Sunday night, Corinthians will once again face Vasco da Gama in a scenario filled with symbolism. The teams meet at 6 p.m. at Maracanã for the second leg of the Copa do Brasil final. The overall record between the teams at the stadium is balanced.

Corinthians and Vasco da Gama have faced each other 22 times at Maracanã, with each side winning nine times and four matches ending in a draw. Timão has scored 25 goals, while their opponents have netted 33. However, in knockout matches against the Cruzmaltinos at the stadium, the Paulista Alvinegro has fond memories.

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Corinthians eliminated Vasco at Maracanã in the 2009 Copa do Brasil semifinal. Photo: © Daniel Augusto Jr./Ag.Corinthians

In total, Timão has played six decisive matches against Vasco at Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho. The record shows only one Corinthians victory, along with two draws and three defeats. Even so, these encounters have yielded important qualifications and significant achievements for the club from Parque São Jorge, reinforcing the idea that, in these meetings, the scoreline didn't always tell the whole story.

The first decisive clash between the teams at Maracanã took place on May 31, 1953, during the Torneio Rio-São Paulo. At that time, the competition was played in a single round-robin format and brought together the country's top clubs. Corinthians reached the final stretch unbeaten, with five wins and two draws, while Vasco still had one game in hand and maintained real title hopes.

In the head-to-head, the Cariocas won 1-0 with a goal from striker Chico, keeping their title hopes alive and raising the possibility of a playoff to decide the champion. With 12 points, Timão now depended on other results in the final round. The scenario turned out favorable: São Paulo was defeated by Portuguesa 1-0, and Vasco was beaten by Santos 3-2. Thus, even without playing, Corinthians secured their second title in the interstate tournament.

Later in 1953, the clubs met again in another knockout stage, this time in the semifinals of the Torneio Octogonal Rivadávia Corrêa Meyer. Created as an alternative to the controversial Copa Rio, the competition brought together Brazilian and foreign teams, functioning as an intercontinental tournament.

Corinthians advanced to the semifinals after finishing second in Group A, which also included São Paulo, Sporting (Portugal), and Olimpia (Paraguay). Vasco led the other group and, having the better record, earned the right to host both matches at Maracanã. In June, in Rio de Janeiro, Timão couldn't overcome their rivals: they lost 4-2 in the first match and were defeated again 3-1 in the decisive game, ending their run in the tournament.

The clubs would only meet again in knockout matches more than four decades later, in the 1995 Copa do Brasil semifinal. This time, the outcome was overwhelmingly favorable to Corinthians. The first leg, at Maracanã, ended with a 1-0 win for the Alvinegro, with a goal from Marcelinho Carioca, in what was until then an unbeaten campaign in the tournament.

In the return leg at Pacaembu, Timão gave their opponents no chance. With a 5-0 thrashing, they closed the tie with a 6-0 aggregate score and advanced to the final, where they defeated Grêmio to win the competition.

The most emblematic meeting between Corinthians and Vasco at the Rio stadium took place on January 14, 2000, in the final of the first FIFA Club World Cup. In front of about 73,000 fans, the teams played a balanced final from start to finish. After a goalless draw in regulation and extra time, the champion was decided on penalties.

In the shootout, Corinthians prevailed. Rincón, Fernando Baiano, Luizão, and Edu converted their penalties, while Romário, Alex Oliveira, and Viola scored for Vasco. Goalkeeper Dida shone by saving Gilberto's shot, and Marcelinho Carioca missed for Timão as Hélton made the save. On Vasco's final attempt, Edmundo sent the ball wide, sealing Corinthians' 4-3 victory and securing the club from Parque São Jorge their first FIFA-recognized world title.

As a curiosity, Corinthians' current kit was inspired precisely by that historic triumph at Maracanã. This Sunday, Timão will wear the same combination used 25 years ago, playing all in white, while Vasco is expected to take the field in an all-black kit, symbolically recreating the scene from the 2000 final.

The most recent chapter in this series of decisive clashes took place in 2009, once again in a Copa do Brasil semifinal. In the first leg at Maracanã, the teams drew 1-1. Dentinho scored for Corinthians in the first half, while Rodrigo Pimpão equalized for Vasco in the second.

Even without a win, the result was considered positive for Timão. That year, the away goals rule was in effect, giving extra weight to the draw with goals. In the return leg at Pacaembu, a 0-0 draw secured Corinthians' place in the final. There, Corinthians confirmed their strong campaign by defeating Internacional and lifting another national trophy.

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