Aerial threat turns nightmare as Vasco concede draws away from Rio | OneFootball

A sad pattern has become routine in Vasco's matches away from Rio de Janeiro. The team from Rio has been suffering from serious lapses of concentration in the final minutes of its games. That cruel script has led to bitter draws on the road.

The team led by Renato Gaúcho let six crucial points slip away in those three Brazilian Championship matches. The Cruz-Maltino side currently sits in a modest 12th place in the national tournament standings. Their tally has stalled at 13 points because of the recent slip-ups.

+ Vasco has the third-best goal conversion rate in the second half of the Brasileirão

The curse of aerial balls in stoppage time

The pattern of goals conceded is causing huge concern for the coaching staff. The painful draws against Cruzeiro, Coritiba and Remo all came from aerial plays. Vasco’s defense has been failing systematically in the closing stages.

At Mineirão, youngster Japa scored a header in the 45th minute. At Couto Pereira, Alan Saldivia scored an own goal in the 44th minute after a low cross took a deflection. The aerial nightmare repeated itself at Mangueirão last Saturday. Center-back Marllon rose unmarked to level the match in the 39th minute of the second half.

The bitter taste felt by Vasco’s squad

Frustration took over the players after the final whistle in Belém. Defensive midfielder Thiago Mendes perfectly summed up the group’s feelings in an interview. He called for total focus in defense to avoid further setbacks:

The experienced player urged his teammates to take a hard look at themselves:

The same expression had already been used by assistant coach Bruno Lazaroni to describe the debut in the Copa Sudamericana against Barracas Central.

Thiago Mendes is Vasco’s captain and lamented yet another draw conceded — Photo: Thiago Ribeiro/AGIF

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