Vasco Da Gama

The History of CR Vasco da Gama

1958 – THE SUPER-SUPER CHAMPIONSHIP

Brazil’s title made the Rio State championship even more special. With excellent players, Vasco sold its world champion Vavá to the Madrid Athletic. But not even missing this celebrity we decreased in efficiency: the spares, as the directors were previously expecting, technique commission and cheers, did a good job. At the end of 2 turns, Vasco, Flamengo and Botafogo had the same number of points. Was realized, then, a super championship, on a single turn rule, with the triangle playing each other. After defeating Flamengo for 2x0, Vasco lost for Botafogo, creating a new draw among them.

The only way to resolve was, disputing the super-super championship. A victory of 2x1 upon the alvinegros and a draw of 1x1 with the rubro negros, granted the, so hard and super up scaled title for the club of São Januário.

1965 – TROPHY 4TH CENTURY OF THE CITY OF RIO DE JANEIRO

Within the inexpressive decade of Vasco in 1960’s the year of 1965 might have been one of the more significant ones for the club of São Januário. Celebrating the 4th century of the city of Rio de Janeiro, was organized a great tournament counting on Vasco, Flamengo and the selection of Eastern Germany. Vasco won Flamengo and the Germany selection, conquering, in a sensational way the title of champion of the 4th century trophy.

1974 – THE FIRST TITLE OF NATIONAL CHAMPION

Jorginho Carvoeiro scored the goal, which granted the title

The decision, previously scheduled for the Mineirão (stadium in Minas Gerais), was transferred to Maracanã, because in a previous match, directors from Cruzeiro (soccer team in Minas Gerais), declaring a penalty not given in favor Cruzeiro’s team ran into the field. Result, they lost the benefit of field and the game was transferred to the state of Rio. Cruzeiro of Piazza and Palhinha started scaring, but it didn’t take too long for our player Ademir score. At the last minutes, Nelinho, kicking from a distance scored 1x1. The agony only ended at the 36th minute, when Alcir sent Jorginho Carvoeiro, who divided with the goalkeeper Victor and scored the goal, which granted the title. And as told, with its pioneer, Vasco wrote just another page of its history becoming the first club of Rio to be a national champion.


1987/1988 - THE DUBLE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

In 1987 our country cries the death of the poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade, although, the happiness through soccer was already guaranteed by this 2, Roberto Dinamite and Romario. Vasco’s team had a great Guanabara Trophy cup, getting to the finals with Flamengo and needing only a draw. Acted guaranteeing the 0x0. After the 2nd place in the Rio Trophy, Vasco disputed the final in a triangular with Bangu and Flamengo.

The team from Moça Bonita, was massacred for 4x0. It was time to pay Flamengo back, and it was just that, with an magistral exhibition, a sensational pass from Roberto Dinamite, in one of the moments with the greatest beauty that Maracanã has even seen, the ball came easily for Tita, ex-player from Flamengo, who stroke Flamengo’s goal like a cannon, and then closing its lid. A better revenge would be just impossible. Vasco, State champion of 1987.

In the state championship of 1988, after the vice-champion title of the Guanabara Trophy, Vasco began to show its power and won the Rio trophy. In this state championship, Vasco started a series of victories over Flamengo, getting to build the pentagon, winning 5 games in a role. The first (1x0) was still in the Rio Trophy, goal of the center forward Henrique. Following, already in the 3rd turn, after winning Americano and get a draw with Fluminense, Vasco beat Flamengo for 3x1, with 2 goals of Sorato and 1 of Vivinho.

With this result the team from São Januário, would play the finals in two matches against the Rubro-negros, having the possibility to dispute up to four matches in reason of the necessary number of points. In the first game of the finals, Vasco won for 2x1, goals from Bismark and Romario. In the final match, having to have only a draw Vasco played in defense. Missing only 5 minutes for the end, the coach Sebastião Lazaroni took Vivinho and played with Cocada. Right after the starting, the right lateral gave a cut on the defense Edinho and shot from the begging of the area, scoring the title’s goal and getting into the club’s history.

1989 – THE DUBLE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

In 1989, with the sale of players to the exterior, Vasco, collected money to buy a super team. Bebeto was taken from Flamengo, in a great deal from Vasco’s directors, after an argument between the rival club and its player. To complete the force, arrived Luis Carlos Winck, Boiadeiro among many others.

In an excursion to France, Vasco defeated a French team Metz and an IUGUSLÁVO red star winning the Metz tournament. Followed by the triple of Ramon de Carranza, defeating the Spanish Madrid Athletic, and Uruguay Nacional. It was time for another brazilian. Even with a great team, Vasco took a little while to proceed in the championship.

The team was times having a brilliant game and times just a normal one, and then Bebeto was victim of various lesions, the title of favorite was already begging to be distant and when nobody could even believe, Vasco started to react in the matches, impressively, the hardest ones. It beat Corintians in SãoPaulo and the Internacional in Porto Alegre. With such a turn of table, it went to the finals with 1 point of advantage over São Paulo, which would be enough, just a simple victory to make Vasco once again champion.

The coach Nelsinho gathered the players, and all of them agreed to play the first match away from home. So if, they lost they would be able to make a difference in Maracanã. The game in Morumbi (Stadium in São Paulo) Vasco used the strategy to let São Paulo come forward and to explore the counter attacks with speed. At the begging of the 2nd half, after the corner of Winck, Sorato headed with violence, on the right corner of the goalkeeper Gilmar, scoring the goal of the title. The goalkeeper Acassio, in an afternoon quite inspired realized some magistral defenses. Vasco won its title of 2 times national champion.

1992/93/94 - THE TRI STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

With Maracanã closed for construction, after the terrible accident at the finals of the national championship in 1991, the stadium of São Januário was used as a stage for the principal games in the city of Rio.

It was another title without losing a single game, after winning the 2 turns disputed, with no necessity of final. The team granted the conquer with a simple victory of 1x0, goal of Valdir against Bangu.

On the last game of this competition, a draw with Flamengo of 1x1, was used as a twinkle in Vasco’s memory just to increase its happiness, Robrto was saying goodbye from the fields for state championships. The greatest attack player of the team at the time, he scored 698 goals in 1110 matches with the cruzmaltina shirt. Dinamite went out of the fields with the same simplicity that took him to success.

In 1993, after being vice in the Guanabara tournament, Vasco recovered itself, winning the Rio Trophy and got the right to dispute the finals. After a victory for each side, Vasco played just to keep the draw against Fluminense, and went out of the field with the title of twice state champion.

The year of 1994 was mark by the lightning passage of Dener in São Januário. Player who Vasco’s cheer and friends deposited much hope, he ended with a very short career. Died, tragically in an auto accident at the Lagoa Rodrigues de Freitas in Rio. He played only 12 matches and 3 goals, but enchanted the cheers with his talent. Even though it was not a year of only sadness, mostly for Vasco’s team, the conquer of the Guanabara Trophy with an humiliate 4x1 over Fluminense was just a good begging.

In the last match against the tri-color of Laranjeiras, Jardel scored 2x0 and guaranteed the title, “Tri, Tri o Vasco é Tri” (3, 3, Vasco is 3 times champion) Sang really excited all of Vasco’s cheer all around Brazil.


1997 – VASCO IS 3 TIMES NATIONAL CHAMPION

A few of Vasco’s cheer could ever imagine the spectacle, which they would witness in 1997. Edmundo, after faded passages through Flamengo and Corinthians was in Vasco’s team. Mauro Galvão, who had against himself the advanced age, was invited to assume the defense. Evair, with Edmundo’s approve, came to make an attack team. Till then nothing different, but then Lopes decided to make a random among these players with youth players developed inside the club or those who already played for Vasco.

Edmundo established a new record of goals in a single match for the national championship, scoring six goals on São João’s team. In this same championship, he would break a new record of goals in national championships.

It was a Sunday, and was finals’ day, 21st of December 1997, 90.000 cheers were gathered in Maracanã to watch their team confront Palmeiras, and become 3 times national champion, a simple draw would be enough. After a 0x0, Vasco raised its 3rd national award.




1998 – STATE AWARD, REPRESENTING THE CENTURY

It was year of celebration; the century was coming, year of glories. The team lost Edmundo for the Fiorentina, Evair for Portuguesa, but brought Luizão, who was playing for La Coruña and Donizete who was playing for Corinthians. All the other teams denominated “big teams” like Flamengo, Fluminense and Botafogo, in another rude act, disrespecting Vasco’s century, brought trouble to the championship, they tried to take away the brightness, but didn’t succeeded, even with a W.O. and many other unsportive feedback, Vasco was champion in advance playing against Bangu in Moça Bonita.

To reinforce the idol as it always was, nothing more, nothing less than Mauro Galvão, the author of the title’s goal, already at the end of a complicate match, which seemed to end in 0x0. In contrary of the cheer of its greatest rival, in the year of its century, the Vasco team released a loud shout: WE ARE CHAMPIONS!!!

1998 – VASCO IS 2 TIMES SOUTH AMERICAN CHAMPION - LIBERTADORES

After have sent the Mexican Chivas and América, and the Brazilian Grêmio and Cruzeiro home, Vasco’s adversary at the semi-finals would be the scary River Plate, which in the previous year had won even in São Januário, playing the Super-Cup.

In Rio Donizete’s goals seemed to be insufficient to hold all the pressure in Argentina. In Buenos Aires Vasco was sub estimated by River Plate’s Coach, Ramón Diaz, who said: “Vasco isn’t a big deal”.

With more than 50.000 cheers filling up the Monumental of Nuñez, River was winning for 2x1 till the last minutes, when Juninho in a master’s fault shooting, scored the draw and guaranteed the place at the finals of the Libertadores. For the first game against Barcelona of Guaíaquil, the other finalist, São Jaunário was the chosen stadium. There was no left over ticket from the 34.000 put out on sale.

With goals of Donizete and Luizão, winning for 2x0, Vasco went forward seeking the title. In Equator, the team felt a tense atmosphere, of war, with woods and rock thrown towards the crowd. The pressure wasn’t enough to stop Vasco. Luizão and Donizete, once again, scored 2x0, Barcelona inshorted the difference, but Vasco turned champion of the Libertadores championship of 1998 and 2 times Sul Americano champion of soccer (1948/1998).

2000 – VASCO IS 3 TIMES SOUTH AMERICAN CHAMPION – MERCOSUL

A conquer to be kept in Vasco’s fellow’s memory for many years. Not even the most hopeful one
could ever imagine that the team, ruled by the aster Romario, in midst of Parque Antártica, would return a score of 3x0, for 4x3, and walk out of São Paulo with the title of the Mercosul championship. But, once again Vasco showed why it is the team of victories.

But who watched the begging of the sulamericana championship couldn’t ever imagine that Vasco would be the champion. Due to the fact that the team had a very bad first step, and was only able to get its classification for the 2nd turn thank to a combinations of results. At the quarterfinals, the team confronted the Rosário Central from Argentina. On a game in São Januário, a very skinny victory for 1x0, goal of Juninho Paulista.

The returning match in Rosário, a simple draw would be enough for the brazilian team to go on, but one goal at the last minutes took the decision to penalties. And there was the young Helton, who granted the position by defending a penalty. After this struggle, Vasco went to the semi-finals to confront another Argentine team. This time, the adversary was River Plate. But the dread went to space on the first match in Buenos Aires. An incredible game, Vasco winning for 4x1, shut up everybody mouth.

On the returning match, with the passport stamped for the finals, Vasco won for 1x0, just to show that the Argentine massacre wasn’t a matter of occasion. Then came the great final against Palmeiras. The team of Arcoíres was already saying that Vasco would be vice again.

In the first match in São Januário, a victory for 2x0. A simple draw on the 2nd match would be sufficient to celebrate the 1st place stage. But the defeat for 1x0 in São Paulo, took the decision to a 3rd and decisive game. Then, everybody know what happened...

Vasco, champion of the Mercosul Championship, with a victory of 4x3, the greatest turning over that’s ever been recorded in soccer history on the finals of a championship.
VASCO 3 TIMES CHAMPION SULAMERICANO OF SOCCER

2000 – VASCO 4 TIMES NATIONAL CHAMPION

Another final. Another chance to conquer a title, the last one of the millennium. Another shout “we are champions”. But before all this, the cheer had to suffer a little more, seeing Vasco get over the humble São Caetano, the unexpected one.

Of humble and unexpected, the “Azulão” (nickname given to São Caetano) from the Paulista interior had no traces. The coach at the time not well known, was running São Caetano, getting over 3 great tams from the national soccer. But the advantage of deciding the 2nd match at home belonged to Vasco. It was the 2nd decision of Joel Santana (Vasco’s Coach) within a month time.

The Vasco team had an attack with the 2 Juninhos, Euller and Romario, with 18 goals, also counting with the security that Helton brought. That was more than sufficient.

At the first game in São Paulo, the team from São Januario let the Azulão play around, and suffered the first goal. When Romario’s star started to shine, who brought all together on an occasion of pure opportunism, giving Vasco the chance to play the 2nd game with the advantage of a draw in 0x0.

On 30th of December 2000, date of the 2nd and decisive match, there was an unfortunate accident with the fence of São Januário. After a lot of discussion the new and decisive match was scheduled for 18th of January 2001, in Maracanã.

With Maracanã filled up with only Vasco’s cheers, the team became champion, once again, conquering the 4th national championship, by knocking São Caetano’s team with a score of 3x1.

The History of CR Vasco da Gama

1947 – THE EXPRESS OF VICTORY

Vasco was coming with an attack to scare any defense, Djalma, Maneca, Friaça (Dimas), Lelé (Ismael) and Chico. As coach they had Flavio Costa, 3 times champion, (42/43/44) with Flamengo, he substituted Ernesto dos Santos, who was fired in the previous year.

After easily conquering the state championship, scoring 40 goals in only 10 matches, the team continued to run over its opponents in the state tournament, pumping the nets 68 times in 20 matches. In the first turn of this championship, Vasco won Canto do Rio for 14x1, pushing them the greatest score of the professional soccer in the state of Rio. The rival even tried to stop the humiliation, using the spare goal keeper in the 2nd turn when the game was already 5x0. Better would be if they had left the unfortunate playing.

In the hardest game against Botafogo, ruled by Heleno de Freitas, a match with no goals gave the title to Vasco. The Express ended the championship with no defeats finishing the tournament with 7 points ahead of the 2nd the Alvinegro.

1948 – VASCO CONQUERES THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL TITLE FOR BRAZIL

With the returning of Ademir to the team, a very special title was already reserved for 1948. Vasco, as champion of the Federal District of 1947 was invited by Colo Colo to dispute the South American Champion Tournament, in Chile. Playing against great teams from 7 different countries from the continent, in single turn, all against all, and count points in a role, the cruzmaltinos didn’t play nice with its rivals, and brought our goblet back home without losing a single match.

The victory began to be seen in the 2nd match, when Vasco scored an non returning 4x0 on the scary National from Uruguay, of the center-forward Atilio Garcia. The drawing was ended when the team from São Januário got a draw in 1x1 with the opponent. And became reality in the heroic 0x0 with River Plate of Di Stéfano who scored 27 goals in the Argentine championship in that same year. In the game, which became part of Vasco’s history, Barbosa defended a penalty and the referee annulled a goal from Vasco.

This conquer represented the first international title of Brazilian soccer, including clubs and national selections. Which reinforces the pioneer of São Januário’s club.

1949 – RECORD OF GOALS, ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP WITHOUT LOSING A SINGLE MATCH

In 1949 Vasco counted with the presence of Heleno de Freitas commanding the attack. If the team had already scared its adversaries with historic goals, this year the goal keepers would lose their counting about the number of times they would have to pick the ball up at their goal’s net. There were 84 goals in only 20 matches, a record. Another title without losing a single match, still under the command of Flavio Costa.

The rival, Flamengo, who once in 1944 didn’t win Vasco, began to suffer again with the Express. The rubro-negros even scored 2x0, in their own field. Excited, the Flamengo team was already considering it a victory. At the end of the game the score was announcing 5x2 for the cruzmaltinos, desperating its rivals.

1950 – THE BASE OF THE NATIONAL TEAM, ALMOST CHAMPION IN 1950

The selection of 1950, with unexpected exhibitions, but for politic motives and the old rivalry between Rio and São Paulo; Brazil ended losing its first world cup in its very own land. The base of the national selection was from Vasco’s team, no doubts, the best of Brazil, with 5 players in charge: Barbosa, Augusto, Danilo, Chico and the center-forward of the world cup the great idol Ademir.



1950 – THE EXPRESS OF VICTORY AND OF HISTORIC SCORES

The Express of Victory

In the first championship realized in Maracanã, Vasco went back to its habit of scoring many goals. Right on its first match, São Cristóvão felt the bitter taste of being massacrated with a 6x0. After, the Vasco team also ran over the Madureira (9x1), the Canto do Rio (7x0), the Bonsucesso (7x2) and Fluminense (4x0), which in the last turn had defeated Vasco for 2x1. the last game was against Améica, other club that defeated Vasco in the last turn. Vasco won (2x1) and conquered another title to São Januário.

The denomination “Express of Victory” surged in a sportive and musical program of the National Radio, which counted on the presence of Lamartine Babo, among many others. Sometime at night a singer presenting himself, said that he would dedicate his song to Vasco, the Express of Victory, a team, which ran over all its rivals. Who told this story was Ademir, on an interview to the “Folha do Esporte” (Papers). The chosen name by the singer, to honor the greatest defense destroyer of Vasco’s history couldn’t be better placed. With the end of the Express it was time for renew.

1953 – THE RENEW

In 1953, Vavá, Bellini, Sabará and many other talented players were definitely accepted in the principal team. That year began very well for Vasco. At the international quadrangular of Rio, disputed in Maracanã with Boca Júnior and Racing, both from Argentina, and Flamengo, the cruzmaltinos took the title with 2 draws with the Argentines and a destroying match against Flamengo with a score of 5x2. In the following they went to Chile to dispute the international tournament of Santiago. They won the Colombian Milionários and, once again the Colo Colo, for the sufficient score of 2x1, becoming champions.

1958 – VASCO’S PIONEER, ONCE AGAIN, AN ATTITUDE OF BELLINI

In 1958, year of world cup, Vasco had to lend Bellini, Orlando and Vavá, to help the national selection conquer its first title of world champion. The competition took place in Sweden and the finals with the hosts. After 90 minutes, Brazil 5x2, with 2 goals of Pelé, 1 of Zagalo and 2 of Vavá. There was only rest for the selection’s captain, our Bellini the opportunity to raise the award, with both hands and right over his head the title Jules Rimet. An attitude that became famous, and was copied by all captains which selections had the chance to become world champion.

The History of CR Vasco da Gama

1927 – SÃO JANUÁRIO ARISES, THE GIANT OF THE HILLS

São Januário Stadium

Confronting so much discrimination, Vasco started a campaign to raise money among the associates and followers for the construction of a stadium according to the greatness of its club. At its return to the division of the greater teams of the national soccer, in 1925, Vasco had a good championship, 13 victories, 3 draws and 2 defeats, finishing in 3rd place. In 1926, the “black shirts” climbed another step, getting to the vice-champion, winning 14 from the 18 matches disputed.

But the Vasco club and its members were much more interested in realize a dream that was the construction of a stadium than a state championship. Time was there to show them, they were right, in a few years after, there was the inauguration of São Januário, Vasco had built an Empire respectable of titles and international projection.

In little time the contribution of cheers and followers, the amount of 685 contos and 895 thousands of réis. The money was sufficient for the purchase of an enormous area in São Cristóvão. Having purchased the land, the next step would be even harder, raise again something close to 2 thousand contos of réis for the construction of the stadium. Once again, the power of united people made a difference, and in a little more than a year time, the construction started.

During the construction appeared a rock in Vasco’s way. The President of the Republic, Washington Luís, refused to authorize the importation of Belgian cement, previously used on the construction of the Jockey Club, even knowing that our country couldn’t provide the product for a construction of this big. The constructors, finally, found a creative solution, with the mixture of cement, sand and crushed rocks.

São Januário would become not only a beautiful stadium, but also a landmark in the history of civil construction in our country. 10 months after launching the principal stone, the stadium of São Januário was inaugurated on 21st of April 1927, with the presence of Washington Luís, who a little time before had made a hard time the continuation of its construction.

It was party time, and the inaugural game of the stadium. We received Santos, a team from São Paulo, which was considered a great potential club for the “paulista” (state championship in São Paulo) soccer at the time, and was defeated for 5x3. The negative score really didn’t matter, but what really is still in our minds is that the club had a new reality.

Till the year of 1941, when Pacaembú (stadium of Santos) was inaugurated, in São Paulo, São Januário reigned in absolute for 14 years as the biggest and best stadium in Brazil.

VASCO’S PLAYER CREATES THE OLIMPIC GOAL

In March of 1928, Vasco inaugurated the Light posts and the bleachers of one side, behind one of the goal bars, in a match against a team from Uruguay Wanderers. Vasco won with 1x0, with a goal scored with the kick of a corner, the ball making its trajectory straight to the opponent’s goal. Right through a player called Santana, there was born in that exactly moment the famous Olympic goal. This denomination was given to the fact that the team from Uruguay was the actual Olympic Champion. This kind of goal started to be called “Olympic goal”.

SURGES THE SHOUT “CASACA”!

As the well distinguished member Francisco Rainho said that, at that time, the negotiate João de Lucas, a cheer of Vasco, in love with the club, who a little late would found the organized cheer group (TVO), was used to celebrate his club’s victories with an alternative way. As Vasco also had gathered cheers from all different social classes, among all his friends from the club, there were people of the elite of Rio, with their impeccable clothing. To honor these people, João created a chorus, which would become his team’s shout:

CASACA, CASACA, CASA-CASA-CASACA!
A TURMA É BOA É MESMO DA FUZARCA
VASCO! VASCO! VASCO!

1931 – FIRST CARIOCA IN THE EXTERIOR

In 1931, Vasco got even closer to the state title. At the last turn, with one point over the América, the cruzmaltino team, lost for 3x0 to Botafogo, while the América was winning for 3x1 Bonsucesso and conquered another award.

In this championship, Vasco team gave the historic massacre over its greatest rival rubro negro, with an humiliate score of 7x0. But this wasn’t one of the most remembered facts in São Januário: Vasco became the 2nd national club- o Paulistano, from São Paulo, started – and the first carioca to be invited to an excursion to Europe, mostly to Portugal and Spain.

To reinforce the team the director invited Nilo, Carvalho Leite and Benedito (Botafogo) and Fernando (Fluminense). In 12 matches, Vasco won 8, tied 1 and lost 3. Scored 45 goals and suffered only 18.

The consequences of its success came right after: the players Fausto and Jaguaré were hired by Barcelona, one of the clubs, which suffered with the skills of those, called “the black shirts”.

1935 – IS BORN THE PEACE CLASSIC

Because of a fight with Flamengo, first started in the rowing, Vasco abandoned the League and created, with Botafogo, the Metropolitan Federation of Disports (FMD). Filiated to the CBD. In 1935 Vasco got the 3rd place. Even though the “black shirts” won again in 1936. The only club, which confronted was Madureira with 3 finishing matches.

The reconciliation in the Carioca soccer had its place in 1937, thank to the initiative of the presidents of Vasco and América, respectively Pedro Pereira Novaes and Pedro Magalhães Corrêa, on 29th of July was created the League of Soccer of the State of Rio, unifying all the medium and big size clubs of soccer from the state. To celebrate the victory out of field, both teams confronted themselves in São Januário, on the 31st of the same month, in a match with a record of collection in the city. Since then the matches between the 2 clubs got a nickname as “THE PEACE CLASSIC”.

1945 – SURGES THE DIAGONAL STRIPE

The Offensive Line on 1945

Vasco sought the reinforcement of Augusto (São Cristóvão), Eli (Canto do Rio), Danilo (América), Ademir from Sport Recife, along with Lelé, Isaías and Jaír (all of them from Madureira). With these names, the cruzmaltinos, built the bases of a team which would mark the history of Vasco da Gama, in Brazil and in the World.

The first step of Ondino Vieira was change the team’s shirt, having been guiding River Plate, the Coach was inspired with the uniform of the Argentine team and adopted a diagonal white stripe on a shirt colored black. And, for the warmer days, they created a white model, which would hold less heat, with a black stripe crossing. It was the end of the “black shirts” and the beginning of the “Express of Victory”.

Historia del CR Vasco da Gama

1947 - EL EXPRESO DE LA VICTORIA

El Vasco venía con un ataque de espantar cualquier defensa, Djalma, Maneca, Friaça (Dimas), Lelé (Ismael) y Chico. En el comando del equipo, Flavio Costa, tricampeón (1942/43/44) por el Flamengo sustituía Ernesto dos Santos, que había fracasado en el año anterior.

Después de vencer con facilidad el torneo Estadual, marcando 40 goles en apenas diez juegos, el equipo siguió atropellando sus adversarios en el Carioca, hinchando las redes 68 veces en 20 partidos. En el primer turno de este campeonato, el Vasco ha ganado del Canto del Río por 14 a 1, imponiendo la más grande goleada de la fase profesional del fútbol carioca. El adversario todavía intentó evitar el bochorno sustituyendo el arquero en el intervalo cuando el juego estaba 5 a 0. Antes tuviera dejado el infeliz en campo.

En el juego más difícil contra el Botafogo de Heleno de Freitas, un empate sin goles garantizó el título al Vasco. El Expreso acabó el campeonato invicto, con siete puntos al frente del alvinegro.

1948 - VASCO CONQUISTA PRIMER TÍTULO INTERNACIONAL PARA EL BRASIL

Con el regreso de Ademir al equipo, un título muy especial estaba reservado para el año de 1948. El Vasco, como campeón del Districto Federal de 1947, fue invitado por el Colo Colo para disputar el Torneo de los Campeones Sudamericanos, en Chile. Jugando contra grandes equipos de siete países del continente, en turno único, todos contra todos y contando puntos corridos, los cruzmaltinos no habían dado posibilidades a los adversarios y habían traído el caneco para casa de forma invicta.

La conquista comenzó a ser dibujada en el segundo partido, en que el Vasco aplicó un irremediable 4 a 0 en el temido Nacional, de Uruguay, del goleador Atílio Garcia. Pintó en colores vivos cuando el equipo de São Januário arrancó un empate en 1x1 con el equipo de la casa. Y se tornó realidad en 0 a 0 heroico contra el River Plate de Di Stéfano que había marcado 27 goles en el campeonato argentino de aquél año. En este juego, que entró para la historia del Vasco, Barbosa agarró un penalty y el árbitro anuló un gol de Vasco.

Esta conquista representó el primer título internacional del fútbol brasileño, sea de club o selecciones, lo que refuerza el pionerismo del Club de São Januário.

1949 - RÉCORDE DE GOLES, UNO MÁS INVICTO CAMPEONATO

En 1949 el Vasco contó con la presencia de Heleno de Freitas en el comando del ataque. Si el equipo hubiera asustado ya las defensas adversarias con goleadas históricas, en este año los arqueros iban a perder la cuenta del número de veces que iban a buscar la bola en el fundo de la red. Habían sido 84 goles en solamente 20 juegos, un récorde. Y uno más invicto título, aún bajo el comando de Flavio Costa.

El rival Flamengo, que desde 1944 no había ganado del Vasco, volvió a sufrir con el Expreso. Los rubro negros habían llegado a hacer 2 a 0 en el placar, en la Gávea. Eufóricos, los torcedores del Flamengo daban como cierta la victoria. Al fin del partido, el placar anunciaba 5 a 2 para los cruzmaltinos, para desespero del adversario.

1950 - LA BASE DE LA SELECCIÓN, CASI CAMPEONA MUNDIAL DE 1950

El Brasil de 1950 con exhibiciones de gala, pero por razones políticas y de la vieja rivalidad Río x São Paulo acabó por perder su primer mundial en pleno Maracanã. La base de la selección brasileña era el equipo del Vasco, disparado el mejor del Brasil, con cinco jugadores en campo: Barbosa, Augusto, Danilo, Chico y el goleador de la Copa del Mundo, el gran ídolo Ademir.

1950 - EL EXPRESO DE LA VICTORIA Y DE LAS HISTÓRICAS GOLEADAS

El Expreso de la Victoria

En el primer Campeonato realizado en el Maracanã, el Vasco volvió al hábito de marcar muchos goles. Pronto en el juego de estrena, el São Cristóvão ha sentido el sabor amargo de ser goleado: 6 a 0. Más adelante, el Vasco, todavía atropelló el Madureira (9 a 1), el Canto del Río (7 a 0), el Bonsucesso (7 a 2) y el Fluminense (4 a 0) que en el turno anterior había derrotado el Vasco por 2 a 1. El juego pasado fue contra el América, otro que había derrotado el Vasco en el turno. El Vasco ganó (2 a 1) y llevó un título más para São Januário.

La denominación Expreso de la Victoria apareció en un programa deportivo y musical de la Radio Nacional, que contaba con la participación de Lamartine Babo, entre otros. Allá por las tantas, un cantante, a presentarse, ha dicho que iba a dedicar la música al Vasco, el Expreso de la Victoria, un equipo que atropellaba los adversarios en campo. Quien ha contado esta historia fue Ademir, en entrevista a la "Folha do Esporte". El nombre elegido por el cantante para homenajear la locomotora más grande de los goles de la historia del Vasco no podría tener sido más oportuno. Con el fin del Expreso era la hora de la renovación.

1953 - LA RENOVACIÓN

En 1953, Vavá, Bellini, Sabará y otros jugadores de talento y fuerza iban sido incorporados definitivamente al equipo principal. El año empezó bien para el Vasco. En el Cuadrangular Internacional del Río, disputado en el Maracanã con Boca Juniors y Racing, ambos de Argentina, y Flamengo, los cruzmaltinos llevaron el título con dos empates con los argentinos y una goleada más de 5 a 2 en los rubro negros. En seguida, fue para el Chile disputar el Torneo Internacional de Santiago. Ganó el colombiano Millonarios y, una vez más, el Colo Colo, por el placar suficiente de 2 a 1, sagrándose campeón.

1958 - EL PIONERISMO DEL VASCO, UNA VEZ MÁS, EN EL GESTO DE BELLINI

En 1958, año de Copa del Mundo, el Vasco cedió Bellini, Orlando y Vavá para ayudar a la Selección Brasileña a conquistar su primer título de campeona. La competición fue en la Suecia y la final, con los dueños de la casa. Después de 90 minutos, Brasil 5 a 2, con dos goles de Pelé, uno de Zagallo y dos de Vavá. Cupo al capitán de la selección, nuestro Bellini, levantar con las dos manos y sobre la cabeza, la Copa Jules Rimet. Un gesto que se tornó conocido y más adelante acabó por ser copiado por todos los capitanes cuyas sus selecciones habían sido ya campeonas del mundo.