it was what was best to try to secure first place; unlike this, Nacional was a mixed as the team was eliminated from the competition. The game was good, with attacks on both sides, but with a certain area of Vasco da Gama. Until the goal came on a counterattack: Alecsandro pass for Diego Souza, who kicked; Jorge Bava managed to defend, but Diego Souza grabbed the rebound and scored the goal of the match. The party of the Nacional crowd was the highlight of the match: despite the elimination confirmed one week before and lost the last game, the crowd made the party, singing, jumping, letting off fireworks, among others. Despite the victory, Vasco da Gama ended up in second place, behind the Libertad (that simultaneously beat Alianza Lima 2–1, in Alejandro Villanueva in Lima) in a goals for rule. On 15 April, Vasco da Gama won Nova Iguaçu in Moça Bonita by 3-1 and qualified for the Taça Rio semifinal. Rômulo opened the scoring. Zambi, in a penalty kick, draw. But Alecsandro, twice at the end of each half, gave final numbers to the score. The match marked the return of Carlos Alberto, who, despite lack of match fitness, he served well and came close to scoring his goal. On 21 April, Vasco da Gama announced officially the forward Pipico, who was in Macaé. Pipico was standing out in the Fluminense football for 3 to 5 years, since he was in Cabofriense and, posteriorly, Bangu, and finally was hired by a "big team". On 22 April, Vasco da Gama beat Flamengo by 3–2, for Taça Rio semifinal. Vágner Love, after beautiful play with Kléberson, opened the scoring. But the Vasco da Gama reversed the score. In the first goal, Felipe kicked out of the area, and Éder Luís did, on the rebound countered by Felipe. In the second goal, Felipe gave a nice dribble in Luiz Antônio, and kicked to goal. In the second half, Felipe committed penalty in Alecsandro. Felipe hit and made the third. Kléberson on a beautiful shot from outside the area, the score decreased, but to no avail. After the game, Felipe said Vágner Love's provocations, before the game. On 29 April, Vasco da Gama over a bitter defeat in a final; this time it was against Botafogo: 3–1. In the first half, Botafogo opened a good lead: Sebastián Abreu, after quick play with