How it happened
Vasco da Gama won the Copa Sudamericana semi-final 1-0 away to Boca Juniors despite playing the final stretch with ten men and being outshot by a margin of two to one.
Adson scored the only goal in the 25th minute, and Vasco went in at half-time ahead. Boca had no reply before the interval, and the score did not change after it.
The turning point came in the 64th minute, when Gómez was sent off for Vasco. Boca then had more than 25 minutes against a reduced side, but they could not find an equaliser.
The numbers
Boca led almost every attacking measure. They had 18 shots to Vasco's nine, 9 corners to one and 61% possession to 39%. Their expected goals total was 1.04, against 0.44 for Vasco.
The gap closes where it matters most: each side put two shots on target. Boca's volume produced few clear chances, and Vasco's goal came from a smaller share of the play.
Three Vasco players topped the ratings. Robert Renan and Paulo Henrique each earned a match rating of 7.8, and Adson followed on 7.7. Renan played the full 90 minutes and had 64 touches. Paulo Henrique made one key pass in 82 minutes. Adson, who scored, was on the pitch for 68 minutes.
What it means
Vasco arrived with seven wins, two draws and one defeat in their last 10 matches, scoring 17 and conceding four. Here they added a result built on defending a lead.
Boca's last 10 read five wins, four draws and one defeat, with 16 goals scored and eight conceded. They now trail in the tie by a single goal, with the possession and chances that did not turn into a result.