Diniz hails team, laments missed penalty for Vasco v Botafogo | OneFootball

Playing at São Januário, Vasco drew 1-1 with Botafogo this Wednesday, in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil. Despite the home setback, coach Fernando Diniz praised the team's performance in the Rio de Janeiro derby.

“I think Lucas Freitas and Hugo Moura had the advantage practically the whole game. There was a header at the beginning, which was a strategy of theirs that we didn't expect. The goal was well-deserved by Botafogo. We didn't struggle with the pair of strikers. I think we knew how to mark well, we knew how to quickly recover to get the second balls, and the team was very competitive. I also believe in the defensive system, the marking, the entire defensive system, the whole team perhaps had Vasco's best match,” said Diniz.

Uncalled Penalty

Diniz also took the opportunity during the press conference to complain about a penalty not awarded to Vasco, after a handball by Marlon Freitas.

“I saw the image and thought it was an easy penalty to call. As easy as Piton's. Very similar. Open hand, raised arm. I don't understand... the criteria are very different in Brazilian football. It’s irritating. Just like time-wasting. The only guy who was sent off in history... As a commentator says: not a doctor, but not a fool. Everyone is a fool now. The only one who isn't a fool is Flávio, who sent off Léo Jardim against Inter. The lack of criteria is very irritating. If it wasn't a penalty, then Piton's can't be either,” concluded Diniz.

Photos: Matheus Lima / Vasco

The return match between Vasco and Botafogo will be on September 11, Thursday, at Estádio Nilton Santos, at 9:30 PM (Brasília time).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.