Thiago Mendes hails Vasco’s comeback at São Januário: “Winning team”

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·13 de março de 2026

Thiago Mendes hails Vasco’s comeback at São Januário: “Winning team”

The maestro took the armband, conducted the historic comeback, and left the cauldron to a standing ovation. Vasco secured their first victory in this season’s Brazilian Championship on Thursday night (12th). In the debut of coach Renato Gaúcho, the team overcame Palmeiras 2-1, coming from behind, on the pitch at São Januário.

Midfielder Thiago Mendes led the Cruzmaltino comeback. The player wore the captain’s armband, scored the equalizing goal, and had his name chanted in unison by the stands. After the final whistle, the athlete made a point to dedicate the result to the fans and highlight the immediate change in the squad’s collective attitude.

Vídeos OneFootball

+ With a comeback, Vasco beats Palmeiras and leaves the relegation zone

Vasco’s Commitment on the Field

The midfield maestro showered praise on the squad’s fight during the 90 minutes of play. He spoke on the sidelines:

“Thank God everything went right today, I was crowned with the goal. I have to congratulate the team, Vasco was a winning team, gave everything the whole time in pursuit of victory. The fans came to see this: a lot of grit, determination, and the positive result came today.”

When assessing the impact of the new coaching staff’s first days of work, the number 8 was straight to the point in explaining the reaction:

“I think it’s the willpower, the desire to win that changed everything. We knew we had the chance to get Vasco out of that situation down there, where it doesn’t deserve to be. They had a chance in the first half and scored. We came back with the same commitment, with the same fight, and we came away with the victory.”

Confirmed Absence

The athlete’s strong words reflect his astonishing performance on the pitch. The midfielder dominated the central sector, touching the ball 61 times and achieving a 98% pass accuracy, completing 46 out of 47 attempts. He also reached 100% perfection in passes made in the attacking third and in long balls, adding seven recoveries, four precise tackles, five duels won, and an excellent 8.5 rating for the round.

The only setback on this stellar night is the confirmed absence of the standout player in the next match of the national calendar. The midfielder received his third yellow card from the referee and will serve an automatic suspension over the weekend. The Cruzmaltino leader will miss the match against Cruzeiro, scheduled for this Sunday (15th) at 8:30 p.m., at the Mineirão stadium.