The Beauty of Football in One Match

By: Bruno Romani | May 30th, 2008

Football is the perfect emulator of life. This sport is able to capture with single perfection the ups and downs that every human being goes throughout their lives. The semi-final of Copa do Brasil with Vasco taking on Sport was one of those moments that make even the most skeptical about how people cannot always be on the top or always be in shadows of sorrow.

The first-leg Sport had pulled another great 2-0 victory at home. After the first-half in the second-leg, it seemed Sport had it. This is when 2 men full of ups and downs started to send Sport down. Leandro Amaral scored for the locals. This is the man who left Vasco after last year’s great season. He joined Fluminense, but stayed there just for a few weeks. Vasco went to the courts to have have the forward back. Amaral had to return, but from idol he had become the guy who had to prove the most among all Vasco players. And he did. He started scoring goals again, and here he was giving new hope to Vasco fans.

The 1-0 was not enough, and Vasco put a lot of pressure. The second-goal came through the foot of Edmundo. Edmundo, the guy who joined Vasco 3 times, and left at least two in bad terms. He left Palmeiras where from idol he was seen as a veteran who could help very little. Edmundo joined Vasco just to put an end to his career. But the man started to score, and conducted Vasco’s great campaing in this year’s Copa do Brasil. The 2-0 forced the penalties.

Ironically enough, Edmundo, the idol and hero, was the man who missed the penalty who put Sport in the final. Another important penalty for Vasco Edmundo missed in his career. Probably this was the last one, despite Vasco’s President Eurico Miranda says the opposite.

With Sport in the final, the most exciting local team of the season, will take on Corinthians. And there is a man at Sport who may be thinking how crazy life is. Coach Nelsinho Baptista will take on the club he gave the first Brazilian title. More than that, Baptista was the coach of Corinthians in last year’s relegation. Now, 6 months later, the coach has the chance to put an end to whatever happinness is left to Corinthians fans this season. How beautiful is this game?