Vasco da Gama hosts Santa Fe in Copa Sul-Americana quarter-final

Vasco da Gama faces Independiente Santa Fe in the second leg of the Copa Sul-Americana quarter-finals at São Januário. Following a 0-0 draw in Bogotá, a win for either side in regulation time will secure a spot in the semifinals. If the match ends in a draw, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout.

Vasco enters the match under coach Pedro Emanuel, balancing this continental pursuit with a struggle against relegation in the Campeonato Brasileiro. The squad faces several absences, most notably attacker Facundo Colidio, who was not registered for this stage of the tournament. Other unavailable players include Alan Lescano and Gabriel Pereira. The team is expected to rely on recent signings like Bruno Duarte to bolster the attack.

Independiente Santa Fe arrives with a twelve-match unbeaten streak across domestic and continental competitions. The Colombian side, managed by Pablo Repetto, faces a selection dilemma in goal between Weimar Asprilla and the returning Andrés Mosquera Marmolejo.

Off the pitch, Vasco's SAF has secured R$ 65 million from a DIP loan to manage financial obligations, including creditor payments and payroll, as the club navigates its judicial recovery process.