Carioca quarters set after Vasco v Botafogo, Fluminense win Taça GB 🏆

There is still Fluminense versus Maricá left before the end of the Taça Guanabara, but the quarterfinal matchups of the Campeonato Carioca are already set.

The match that confirmed all the matchups was Vasco vs Botafogo.

A classic played on Sunday night (8) at São Januário.

With plenty of rain.

And it ended with the Cruz-Maltino defeating the Glorioso 2-0.

This result avoided two classics already in the first knockout round of the State Championship. 

And confirmed the Taça Guanabara title for Fluminense, the team with the best campaign.

Check out the details below. 

🌧️ Lots of rain and... little football!

The amount of water that delayed the start of the game by half an hour continued to be a rival for both teams.

Playing at full strength and needing the result, Vasco had the expected greater possession of the ball.

But real danger only came from Coutinho's free kick before halftime.

It was the second shot on target in the first half after Kadir Barria's, the offensive reference for Botafogo's alternative team. 

Vasco meets expectations

Anselmi's team was down a man still in the first half due to Marquinhos' sending off (44'). 

And they couldn't withstand the Cruz-Maltino's momentum after the break.

Brenner scored his first goal for Vasco (49').

And Coutinho extended the lead with a penalty (63'). 

The Glorioso were further hurt heading into the quarterfinals, as Allan – one of the many regular starters who were rested – was sent off from the bench. 

Even with a numerical disadvantage, Botafogo managed to pose a threat in the final stretch of the match.

But not enough to cut the deficit and "get back" into the game.

Quarterfinal matchups 🆚

The uncertainty was about Vasco's position.

The Cruz-Maltino secured their qualification with Flamengo's victory over Sampaio Corrêa on Saturday (8).

But they still needed to know their position.

A draw or defeat would guarantee a classic against first-placed Fluminense.

But a win would mean a matchup against Volta Redonda as the home team. 

And that's what happened.

The matchups involving teams from the other group, B, were already certain.

See below which matchups will take place (single-leg matches):

1st A - Fluminense 🆚 Bangu - 4th A - Quarterfinal 1

2nd A - Vasco 🆚 Volta Redonda - 3rd A - Quarterfinal 2 

1st B - Botafogo 🆚 Flamengo - 4th B - Quarterfinal 3

2nd B - Madureira 🆚 Boavista - 3rd B - Quarterfinal 4 

The semifinals will be: Winner of Quarterfinal 1 🆚 Winner of Quarterfinal 2 and Winner of Quarterfinal 3 🆚 Winner of Quarterfinal 4.

Home and away legs, with the team with the best campaign in the Taça GB deciding at home. The final will be a single match. 

Featured photo: Vítor Silva/Botafogo

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.