Juninho Pernambucano led Vasco do Gama to a 3-1 win over Fluminense in his first match since returning to the club on Sunday.
The veteran midfielder recently ended an ill-fated stint with MLS outfit New York Red Bulls after just seven months, where he cancelled his contract due to “personal issues”.
The 38-year-old returned to Vasco for a third stint and made the decision to retire from football at the end of the season, and until then he is only receiving Brazil’s minimum wage plus a number of unsettled debts from his previous spell with Vasco.
He opened the scoring against last season’s Brasileirão champions in the 17th minute at the Maracanã with a low finish after Pedro Ken’s precise pass.
Fluminense were reduced to 10 men just five minutes later when Brazil international Fred, who scored two goals in the 3-0 Confederations Cup final win over Spain, was shown a straight red card for elbowing Jomar.
Juninho then opened up the Flu defence and Andre lobbed the ball over Diego Cavalieri to make it 2-0, before Carlinhos pulled one back by heading in a Rafael Sobis cross.
However, Fluminense’s hopes of a comeback were all but ended when Digao picked up his second yellow card for a foul on Andre and reduced the Rio club to nine men.
Substitute striker Carlos Tenorio nodded home a Fillipe Soutto’s pass seven minutes from time to put the result beyond doubt and lift Vasco to 17th in the standings.
