Pedrinho e Felipe face 2000 nemesis at Maracanã in bid for first titles as Vasco executives | OneFootball

Corinthians return to Vasco’s path at the Maracanã 25 years after 2000. Pedrinho and Felipe now chase their first titles as club executives in the Copa do Brasil final.

Globo.com notes that the pair rose together from futsal to help drive one of Vasco’s most successful eras between 1997 and 2000. They returned to São Januário in 2024 and now face their old nemesis again.

By 2000 they were young but already winners, including the club’s first Libertadores in 1998. Vasco reached the FIFA Club World Cup final after beating Manchester United 3-1 at the Maracanã.

On 14 January 2000, Corinthians and Vasco finished 0-0 after extra time, then Corinthians won 4-3 on penalties, the club’s only title at the stadium. Felipe started at left-back but was replaced in extra time, Pedrinho was on the bench. Gilberto and Edmundo missed for Vasco.

That year still brought the Brasileiro and the Mercosul, sealed with a 4-3 comeback against Palmeiras. Together they won six senior titles, including Brasileiro 1997 and 2000, Libertadores 1998, Carioca 1998 and Rio-São Paulo 1999.

Pedrinho was elected president in early 2024. In May last year he assumed control of the SAF after a court injunction removed 777 Partners, and in June that year Felipe became technical director at his request.

Under Pedrinho, Vasco reached last year’s Copa do Brasil semi-finals, their first for 15 years. Now they have a chance to end a 14-year wait for a national title, the last major honour was the 2011 Copa do Brasil with Felipe still playing. Sunday’s decider at the Maracanã starts at 18:00 Brasília time on Globo, sportv and geTV, with the winners earning a Libertadores group place.

Source: Globo.com