By Yuri Coghe
With files from Agência Brasil
São Paulo-based club beat Vasco 2-1 at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, on Sunday (21) (Photo: Corinthians/Twitter)
Dutch star Memphis Depay scored the winner to lift Corinthians to their fourth Brazil Cup trophy on Sunday (21).
Their second title of the year came with a 2-1 victory over Vasco at the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the second match of the competition’s final. The first leg ended in a 0-0 draw on Wednesday (17) in São Paulo.
Striker Yuri Alberto opened the scoring after receiving a long pass from right back Matheuzinho in the 18th minute. Vasco replied in the 40th minute when Colombian winger Andres Gomez advanced down the right and delivered a perfect cross for Portuguese player Nuno Moreira, who rose high to head the ball into the net.
The winning goal came in the 62nd minute, when 20-year-old wonderkid Breno Bidon evaded Vasco’s defence with a dazzling dribble and passed the ball to Matheuzinho. The full-back then passed to Yuri Alberto, who had plenty of space to roll the ball to the Dutchman Memphis Depay, who, inside the six-yard box, scored to give Corinthians the trophy.
Previously, Corinthians won the competition trophy in 1995, 2002, and 2009. With this Sunday’s victory, the team from Parque São Jorge secures its place in the 2026 edition of the Copa Libertadores. Vasco’s last national trophy came in 2011, when they won the Brazil Cup.
Since then, Vasco got relegated in 2013, 2015, and 2020. They were previously relegated in 2008. The Rio de Janeiro-based club, once one of Brazil’s most decorated, has been in a deep financial crisis for years.
Corintians had trouble-filled 2025
Corinthians has also been in financial trouble. The club is currently carrying a FIFA transferban for failing to pay for center-back Felix Torres of Ecuador, who came from Mexican club Santos Laguna in January 2024 for U$6.5 million.
Political troubles are common at Corinthians. Former Corinthians president Augusto Melo was impeached mid-season. Since then, he’s been accused of criminal conspiracy, aggravated theft, and money laundering.
“I love them (the fans), and I fight for them,” Depay said after the game, issuing a clear message to the club’s hierarchy.
“The fans deserve all this, but the directors need to wake up. I know exactly what I’m talking about and I know who they are. Just leave this wonderful club alone. This club needs to evolve. It needs to fight in the Libertadores and the Brasileirão every year because of the fans. To those who are screwing Corinthians over, go away. Get out of this club. This club needs structure.”
Battle of former Brazil national team head coaches
Before Carlo Ancelotti took over Brazil’s men’s national team, both Corinthians head coach Dorival Júnior and Vasco head coach Fernando Diniz had brief stints at the Seleção’s helm.
Both failed to secure results and were relieved of their duties, but have shown what they’re capable of by taking two discredited sides to the Brazil Cup final.
“My first contact with Fabinho (Corinthians’ director), and even against my family’s advice, I decided to accept this invitation because I felt I needed to give myself an answer, given everything that had happened within the national team—the criticisms, the mockery, the jokes that people sometimes make without caring about the personal side of a person. And that’s what happened,” said Dorival, who won the Brazil Cup for the fourth time, equaling Luiz Felipe Scolari as the most successful coaches in the competition.
Diniz, who won the Libertadores in 2023 with Fluminense, believes Vasco was the better side in the final.
“Before talking about the game, I want to talk about the sadness we feel for not having given everyone the victory, the title, especially the fans. We are feeling a lot of pain, which I, in particular, am feeling. We played to be champions. The team tried, fought,” the Vasco head coach said.
“Leaving aside the final score, from any perspective you choose to analyze the match, we were superior to Corinthians. Both in the first leg in Itaquera and in today’s game. We had three times as many shots on goal, 44 entries into the final third, while they only managed nine into ours. The numbers for corner kicks, shots, and possession were superior. Unfortunately, we couldn’t score the goal that would have at least forced penalties. There’s a bitter taste of sadness at not winning the title. At the same time, it’s a positive sign that the team fought hard and, for me, represented the Vasco shirt well.”