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After the good victory over Sport, last Saturday, you could imagine a fuller and more evolving Basque under the guidance of Sá Pinto. Even for the expectation, the performance in the goalless draw with Fortaleza, this Thursday, in São Januário, was frustrating. What we saw were the old and known problems. Although coherent in defense, this has been the case since the arrival of the Portuguese, lack of firepower. In general, the point reached was profit.
The attack has been Vasco’s Achilles heel. Since the Brazilian’s start, the team has depended primarily on the actions of Cano and Benítez. The first bite touched the ball against Fortaleza. T-shirt 10, in turn, was a last-minute embezzlement for being diagnosed with Covid.
Sá Pinto, Vasco – Photo: André Durão / ge
The disease, in fact, hampered Ricardo Sá Pinto’s plans. Eight embezzlements were counted, four of them incumbent (Miranda, Castan, Beníitez and Carlinhos).
Fortress closer to the goal
It was not a great match in São Januário. In heavy rain, the two teams were ready, but with little inspiration. Despite the technical balance, Fortaleza has always felt closer to the goal. Fernando Miguel was important in the first half and fundamental in the second, when he made a save from Bergson.
Léo Gil was one of the best of the Basque against Fortaleza – Photo: André Durão / ge
With three defenders and without Benítez, Vasco’s proposal was to bet on the advances of the side. However, he found it difficult with Fortaleza’s low score. Léo Matos and Neto Borges tried and achieved some centers that were not in danger. On the positive side, the good performance of the training of defenders. Marcelo Alves, in particular, got off to a good start.
Gil is fine; Pikachu and Talles must
If the sides found little space, Talles Magno found none. Falling to the left or approaching Cano, the young man made many mistakes, had a more blurred performance and was replaced at half-time by Gustavo Torres. The Colombian, by the way, got better, he had the great opportunity of Vasco in a counterattack in the second half and it seems to be a matter of time before he is tested as a starter instead of Talles.
Without Benítez and with Cano out, another Argentine stood out. Generally confident in marking, Léo Gil took a risk in attack, made good plays and was about to score a beautiful goal. He was one of the best on the team. His replacement was a surprise, but Sá Pinto explained that jersey 7 was tired.
Talles Magno was bad again and was replaced at halftime – Photo: André Durão / ge
Pikachu didn’t do well. Despite the praise of Sá Pinto, the side was given the mission to replace Benítez in the box and was left in debt. The 22 jersey was not omitted, it ran a lot, but created little in the offensive sector. Juninho, who has not yet played with Sá Pinto, was perhaps a better option, but Sá Pinto justified, after the match, that tactically it would not be a good match to put the youngster to the test.
The result was not what was expected, but, as Sá Pinto said, “when you can’t win, you can’t lose.” The Basque, in fact, did not have the strength to win and, given the scenario, the point won was a good size and served to get the team out of the relegation zone.
With 23 points, the Rio de Janeiro team equaled Bragantino, but has one more victory (6 to 5) and is the first club outside of Z-4. However, we will have to play more football, increase the offensive repertoire and have more firepower to finish off the Brazilian smoothly.
Basque Banner – Photo: Disclosure
