Puma Rodríguez Criticizes Vasco After Boca Juniors Elimination

Vasco da Gama's Copa Sudamericana campaign ended at the Maracanã after a 3-1 defeat to Boca Juniors on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Right back Puma Rodríguez, who scored Vasco's goal, criticized his team's performance after the Brazilian club failed to advance despite winning the first leg 1-0 in Argentina a week earlier. The aggregate defeat eliminated Vasco from the competition, while Boca advanced to await the winner of the semifinal between Atlético-MG and Montevideo City Torque of Uruguay.

According to CNN Brasil, Rodríguez expressed disappointment with the result and pointed to costly mistakes and the pressure his team faced during the match. Rodríguez described the elimination as particularly painful because Vasco had appeared close to forcing a penalty shootout or potentially scoring another goal before conceding.

"Very sad. We conceded the goal when we thought we were heading to penalties or could even score another one, but unfortunately we didn't win and didn't advance," Puma Rodríguez said in an interview with SBT.

The defender also questioned the team's approach and highlighted errors that contributed to the defeat. His comments focused on Vasco's inability to maintain the performance needed to protect its advantage from the first leg. "I think we needed to play a little more like men. We made childish mistakes, and there was a lot of pressure during the game," Rodríguez said.

Vasco had entered the second leg with a 1-0 advantage after winning at La Bombonera in Argentina a week earlier. However, Boca's 3-1 victory in Rio de Janeiro overturned that deficit and secured the Argentine side's progress in the Copa Sudamericana. Boca's next opponent will be determined by the other semifinal between Atlético-MG and Montevideo City Torque, scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, in Uruguay. Atlético-MG won the first leg 3-0 in Belo Horizonte, giving the Brazilian club a substantial advantage ahead of the return match, according to CNN Brasil.