Vasco failed to end their nearly 26-year wait to reach an international tournament final.
After winning 1-0 at La Bombonera, Vasco faced Boca Juniors at a Maracanã that welcomed them with a huge celebration on Tuesday night (20).
But they were beaten 3-1 in front of 66,026 fans in the second leg of the Sudamericana semifinal.
They had been competing on three fronts and now turn their attention to the battle against relegation in the Brasileirão and the Copa do Brasil semifinal.
The Argentine side, meanwhile, await the winner of Montevideo City Torque and Atlético Mineiro as they chase their third Sudamericana title.
They advanced with a 3-2 aggregate victory.
Check back soon for the highlights.
Boca are ruthless as Vasco struggle
The Argentine side's "dream scenario" became reality before the fourth minute.
Blanco delivered a corner and Di Lollo rose above Sosa to head home.
The nerves were evident even before Boca's goal. And they only grew.
Adson and Bruno Duarte went for the same ball, for example.
Vasco managed to create chances before halftime. But they lacked accuracy.
There was no shortage of that at the other end. Another individual mistake led to a Merentiel goal (34'), putting Boca ahead on aggregate.
There were several poor individual performances in Pedro Emanuel's side.
And a ruthless Boca showed no mercy.
Vasco return a 'different' team
Vasco came out for the second half with Marino and Brenner.
And with a very different approach, trying to pin their opponents back.
It was Boca's turn to struggle without the ball.
Puma Rodríguez was Pedro Emanuel's third substitute.
And he brought Vasco back into the tie by finishing off a lovely team move in the 66th minute.
Léo Jardim lets it slip
After suffering a grade 2 injury 11 days earlier and making a remarkable recovery, the midfielder who won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina was brought on in the second half.
He had been quiet.
But he would prove decisive.
He tried his luck, and the ball swerved, catching out Léo Jardim, who let it in (88').
A goal from Boca's only chance of the second half.
📸 Wagner Meier - 2026 Getty Images
Vasco kept fighting. But they could not even force a penalty shootout.
What next❓
Boca will face either Montevideo City Torque or Atlético Mineiro in the final.
Atlético hold a commanding lead after winning 3-0 at Arena MRV.
The return leg takes place on Wednesday (21), kicking off at 7 p.m. Brasília time.
Vasco, meanwhile, will turn their attention back to the Brasileirão.
On Saturday (24), they face Corinthians at São Januário.
Winless in two matches, Vasco—who have a game in hand—currently sit 15th with 35 points.
Their next opponents are winless in nine league games and sit 16th with 33 points.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.