Striker Gilberto scored in second-half injury time to help Vasco da Gama defeat Botafogo 2-1 to win its first Rio de Janeiro state title in 12 years on Sunday.
Vasco won 3-1 on aggregate after a 1-0 victory in the first leg last week at Maracanã Stadium. Rafael Silva opened the scoring late in the first half for Vasco da Gama at the Maracanã. Botafogo equalized through Diego Jardel in the 75th minute before Gilberto sealed Vasco’s victory with a shot from inside the area. Vasco’s first-leg win also came with an injury-time goal. Vasco, which played in the second division of the Brazilian league last season, hadn’t won the traditional regional tournament since 2003.
