Flamengo routs Vasco 4-1, extends lead in Brasileirão title race

Flamengo thrashed Vasco 4-1 on Thursday (29th) at Estádio Nilton Santos in the 33rd round of the Brasileirão. Pedro opened the scoring and added a second in the first half, while Samuel Lino struck twice after the interval to seal a dominant display.

With the victory, the Mais Querido reached 73 points and extended their advantage atop the championship standings. Notably, Flamengo's unbeaten record against Vasco in Brasileirão fixtures stretches back 11 years—a remarkable streak of consistency in their most fiercely contested rivalry.

The Match

Flamengo dominated from the outset, controlling possession and pressuring Vasco's build-up play. In the second minute, Varela advanced down the right and reached the byline before crossing. Vasco's defence cleared to a corner.

Seven minutes later, the full-back was involved again after a fine pass from Arrascaeta. Varela whipped in a precise cross, and Pedro, unmarked in the area, powered a header downwards: 1-0.

Vasco levelled on the 14th minute. Cuiabano found Brenner inside the box, and the striker laid it back. Lescano collected the loose ball and fired past Rossi's outstretched hand. Flamengo replied swiftly: moments later, Lino burst down the left and sent a low cross to Arrascaeta, who struck first-time but was denied by a fine save from the Vasco goalkeeper.

The derby remained lively. On 24 minutes, Lino produced a brilliant solo run on the left, beat his marker and cut back a low cross. Royal arrived to finish but sent the ball wide.

Flamengo made it 2-0 on the 40th minute. Pedro collected the ball at the edge of the area and found Lino, who evaded Gabriel Pereira with his body, switched to his left foot and curled a shot towards goal. Léo Jardim parried the effort, but Pedro pounced on the rebound to restore Flamengo's lead.

This was Pedro's 180th goal in a Flamengo shirt and his 28th of 2026. The number nine leads the team's scoring charts and sits second in the Brasileirão's goal race, with 18 strikes.

After the interval, Flamengo maintained their attacking intent and widened the gap on 47 minutes. Following a Paquetá interplay through the middle, Arrascaeta advanced and located Varela. Vasco's rearguard blocked the initial attempt, but Samuel Lino pounced on the loose ball at the edge of the box. The forward picked his spot in the corner to make it 3-1.

Vasco pressed hard in the final stages but to no avail. Flamengo's response came on 39 minutes—a brilliant turn from Léo Ortiz, the centre-back charged forward from his own penalty area, glided past the opposition and entered the box. One-on-one with Léo Jardim, he struck the crossbar. Samuel Lino reacted fastest, striking a fierce drive into the roof of the net to complete the rout: 4-1.

With two goals in this derby, Lino brought his Flamengo tally to 20, with 16 arriving in 2026 alone. This season, the number 16 has featured in 57 matches and been directly involved in 34 goals—a tally that makes him the team's leading assist provider in 2026, with 18 chances created.

Lino's impact in this season's derbies is equally striking: he has registered goal contributions against every Rio state rival he has faced. Across ten matches, he has scored five and assisted two, including three against Botafogo, two against Vasco and two assists in the fixtures with Fluminense. In that run, Flamengo have won seven, drawn twice and suffered just one defeat.

Vasco

Léo Jardim; Puma Rodríguez, Gabriel, Lucas Freitas and Cuiabano (Lucas Piton); Jair and Thiago Mendes (Thcê Tchê); Lescano, Colidio (Nuno Moreira) and Marino (Bruno Duarte); Brenner (David).

Manager: Pedro Emanuel.

Flamengo

Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira and Emerson Royal; Erick and Jorginho; Arrascaeta (Luiz Araújo), Plata (Lucas Paquetá (Joaquín Freitas)) and Samuel Lino; Pedro (Bruno Henrique).

Manager: Leonardo Jardim.

Upcoming Fixture

Flamengo return to action next Wednesday (4th) at 19:30, hosting Grêmio at the Maracanã in the 34th round of the 2026 Brasileirão.

Match Facts

Vasco 1-4 Flamengo – 33rd Round, Brasileirão 2026

Venue: Estádio Nilton Santos – Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Date & Kick-off: 29/10/2026, 20:00 BRT

Referees: Bruno Arleu de Araujo (RJ), Rodrigo Figueiredo Henrique Correa (RJ), Thiago Henrique Neto Correa Farinha (RJ), Roger Goulart (RS) and Paulo Renato Moreira da Silva Coelho (RJ).

Yellow Cards: Plata (FLA) and Samuel Lino (FLA)

Goalscorers: Pedro (9' & 40' 1st Half), Alan Lescano (14' 1st Half) and Samuel Lino (47' & 39' 2nd Half).