Unseen hero tilts it for Vasco da Gama against Palmeiras | OneFootball

Thiago Mendes hauled Vasco da Gama level in the 63rd minute with a right-footed finish, sparking a 2-1 win over Palmeiras.

He timed his late run into the box and swept into the bottom-right corner (63.), a crisp, controlled strike that shifted momentum for the Cruz-Maltino.

From there he ran the game's tempo, repeatedly showing for the ball and punching passes between Verdão's lines. His positioning after the restart drew markers, freed teammates between the centre and right half-space, and forced Palestra to retreat.

The midfielder's control showed in the numbers: three attempts, plus 46 of 47 passes completed and 17 successful final-third deliveries, which kept Vasco camped high and turned pressure into territory. He also won three tackles and made five recoveries, stalling counters before they formed.

Because the hosts funnelled play through him, his steady tempo and angles of pass kept Palestra's midfield chasing and ensured Gigante da Colina dictated the key phases.

Cruz-Maltino climb from 20th to 15th. Vasco visit Cruzeiro next. Verdão slip from first to second. Verdão host Mirassol next.