“Zidanilton” at Vasco: wonder goal v Vitória, missed flight and wife-ordered benching | OneFootball

With Vasco set to decide a Copa do Brasil semi-final place at Vitória on Wednesday, Nilton, nicknamed “Zidanilton”, has revisited the 2009 meeting, mixing on-field feats with off-field capers. According to Globo.com, his memories take in a free-kick stunner, a missed flight and even a benching requested by his wife.

In São Januário he scored from a free-kick in a 4-0 first leg, then helped secure a 1-1 draw at Barradão to complete the job. Celebrations in Salvador took a twist at the airport, where he lingered buying a present for his wife Karin, only to miss the team flight and collect a 10% salary fine from football director Rodrigo Caetano.

Coach Dorival Júnior ribbed his midfield pitbull over the lapse, a tale that quickly did the rounds at the club.

Karin was deeply involved in his career and, believing he needed a jolt, asked Dorival to bench him. Nilton said he began the next game, against Atlético-GO, on the bench, came on seething and produced a standout display.

She also studied opponents and urged him to attack the near post rather than drift to the back stick. Nilton recalls scoring three successive goals from that run before rivals cottoned on, and says Dorival had no complaints.

Retired since 2021, he now lives in São Paulo and works in construction, still identifying strongly with Vasco. He played 157 games, scored 17 goals and lifted the Copa do Brasil, while Karin remains a committed Vasco supporter.

Having won the first leg 1-0 at São Januário, a draw will be enough at Barradão to reach the last four.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”