Romário stars as Vasco hit Algeria 7-0 at São Januário in 2000 | OneFootball

As Algeria return to a World Cup after 12 years, it recalls the night Vasco dismantled them 7-0 at São Januário in 2000, with Romário among the scorers. According to Globo.com, Algeria open on Tuesday at 22:00 Brasília time against Lionel Messi and reigning champions Argentina.

The friendly took place on 3 January 2000 as part of Vasco’s build-up to the Club World Cup. Around 10,000 fans watched a side packed with Romário, Donizete, Felipe and Viola at São Januário.

Algeria were in a bleak spell then, a decade on from their 1990 Africa Cup of Nations title. They sat outside Africa’s top 20 until 2008 and only returned to the World Cup in 2014, when a group featuring Brahimi, Feghouli and Slimani reached the last 16, their best run.

Donizete struck twice, with Juninho, Romário, Felipe, Dedé and Viola also on the scoresheet. Three days later, Antônio Lopes’ team opened the Club World Cup by beating South Melbourne 2-0, then defeated Manchester United 3-1 at the Maracanã.

It was only the second meeting between Vasco and Algeria, the Rio club having won 1-0 at the Torneio Ais El Kebir in 1966. After 2000, Vasco faced the United Arab Emirates in a 2008 tournament in Dubai and have not played national teams since.

That rout ranks among Vasco’s heaviest wins of the 2000s at São Januário. Since then they have scored seven or more there on only six further occasions.

Source: Globo.com