LAUDERHILL, Fla. – Vasco Da Gama captain Rodrigo da Costa had the late winner as the Brazilian side rallied to take a 2-1 victory against Ecuador’s Barcelona SC in the opening round of the 2017 Florida Cup Playoffs on Sunday afternoon at Central Broward Stadium. The victory sets up a meeting with fellow Brazilian side Corinthians on Wednesday night at Bright House Networks Stadium.

With the game looking like it might go to a penalty shootout, Vasco took the lead with six minutes to go off a free kick. A delivery from the right taken quickly by Nene found da Costa for a close range header that caught Barcelona’s defense flat.

The goal was a reflection of the game overall, as Vasco had the first good look at goal when Nene forced a turnover in the Barcelona defense, causing the ball to spill to Thalles. The forward took a first-time shot, but didn’t connect properly from 20 yards and saw his effort go tamely wide.

Despite showing some laxness defensively that on one occasion saw goalkeeper Maximo Banguera need to come sharply off his line to deny a big opportunity, Barcelona grew into the game and took the lead in the 22nd minute. A sweeping move toward the right side saw right back Pedro Velasco make a good overlapping run that was fed by Ely Esterilla, and Velasco’s low cutback to the center of the penalty area was driven home into the left corner by Washington Vera.

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Vasco got the chance to level the score from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark when da Costa was brought down in the area off a free kick. Nene stepped up and coolly rolled his shot into the left corner of the net as the goalkeeper went to wrong way to make it 1-1.

Vasco almost took the lead five minutes before halftime when Damian Escudero got possession 25 yards from goal and sent a shot from distance toward the left corner, but it drifted just wide of the  post. Thalles also went close seven minutes into the second half, blazing a shot from the edge of the penalty area just over the crossbar, while Guilherme was denied moments later by a fine save from Banguera.

The Brazilians continued to have the upper hand, and saw Nene almost get his second of the game from a free kick just past the hour-mark, only for the effort to find the side-netting instead of the top-corner. Barcelona’s first big chance of the second half then came with 13 minutes to go when Beder Caicedo played a good give-and-go to move toward the left side of the penalty area, but he pulled his shot well wide of the right post.

Vasco had the final word, however, as da Costa’s header with six minutes to go proved the winner and send the Brazilian side into the semifinals.