MATCH REPORT

This was rarely a truly exciting game, but it was a hard-fought one that, in the end, only gave victory to Corinthians through a penalty shootout. The first half saw both teams struggling to make, and then being denied, chances on goal, but it was no surprise that the score at half-time was 0-0.

The second half passed in much the same fashion, with neither team allowing the other the opportunity to score. Both Helton and, to a slightly lesser extent, Dida were forced to make some fine saves, which they did with panache, and yellow cards were handed out liberally as the passion of the Brazilian game rose to the surface on many occasions. But however hard they tried, and each team had their share of promising moments, the game went to full-time still goalless.

The golden goal extra time threw up no surprises, the same hard slog as the first two halves, until 13 minutes in when Luizão comitted a foul almost inside his own penalty box. Luckily for him, Dida pulled off yet another fine save from the free-kick. Despite a further few attempts from both teams, the extra time finished without score and it was all down to penalties. Gilberto missed for Vasco, and it seemed as if Corinthians would win. Then, incredibly, Marcelinho missed his and the scores were level. Even more incredibly Edmundo, the captain and arguably Vasco's most important player, also missed his and the title indeed went to Corinthians.