Vasco DA Gama 1-3 Boca Juniors — how it happened, and what the numbers showed
Boca Juniors beat Vasco DA Gama 1-3 at Estádio do Maracanã. How the goals came, what the statistics said and whether our pre-match prediction landed.
Boca Juniors beat Vasco DA Gama 1-3 at Estádio do Maracanã on 21 October 2026, with something to spare. It was a CONMEBOL Sudamericana fixture, semi finals, played in Rio de Janeiro. Half time had it at 0-2.
How it unfolded
The opening 45 did most of the talking. Lautaro Di Lollo opened the scoring on 4 minutes, set up by Lautaro Blanco. Miguel Merentiel made it two on 34 minutes, set up by Sebastián Villa. That left it 0-2 at the interval.
The decisive passages came after half time. Jose Luis Rodriguez pulled one back for Vasco DA Gama on 66 minutes. Leandro Paredes made it three for Boca Juniors on 88 minutes, set up by Milton Delgado. Boca Juniors finished it 1-3.
How the game turned
The goals were spread across the game, two before the interval and two after it. The final goal did not come until 88 minutes. Both sides found the net, and four different players got on the scoresheet.
Discipline
Three yellow cards were shown.
The numbers
Vasco DA Gama had 59% of the ball to Boca Juniors' 41%. It counted for little. Boca Juniors did more with less and took the game. Vasco DA Gama had 12 attempts to Boca Juniors' 7, with 2 and 3 respectively on target. Boca Juniors needed very little: 3 on target, three goals. Elsewhere, corners finished 5-5 and the goalkeepers made 0 and 1 saves.
Who decided it
M. Merentiel finished with the highest rating on the pitch at 8.0 for Boca Juniors. Vasco DA Gama set up in a 4-1-4-1, Boca Juniors in a 4-2-3-1.
Did the model get it right?
Before kick-off our model made Vasco DA Gama the pick, splitting the three results 56% Vasco DA Gama, 36% the draw and 9% Boca Juniors. The model got this wrong. Results like this are the reason the accuracy record is published in full rather than summarised. The goals line called under 2.5 goals; the game produced four, so that one was wrong. Both teams to score was called no; in the event both did score.
For the record
For the record: played at Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro and refereed by Jesus Valenzuela. Scorers: Vasco DA Gama — Jose Luis Rodriguez 66. Boca Juniors — Lautaro Di Lollo 4; Miguel Merentiel 34; Leandro Paredes 88. Half time 0-2, full time 1-3. Three cards shown.
The takeaway
Boca Juniors take the three points, and on this evidence they earned them without ever being able to relax. Vasco DA Gama will point to fine margins, and on this occasion they would have a case.
The full statistics, line-ups and our running prediction record for this fixture sit alongside this report on the match page.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score in Vasco DA Gama vs Boca Juniors?
It finished Vasco DA Gama 1-3 Boca Juniors, so Boca Juniors took the three points at Estádio do Maracanã.
Who scored?
Lautaro Di Lollo on 4 minutes for Boca Juniors, Miguel Merentiel on 34 minutes for Boca Juniors, Jose Luis Rodriguez on 66 minutes for Vasco DA Gama and Leandro Paredes on 88 minutes for Boca Juniors.
When and where was Vasco DA Gama vs Boca Juniors played?
21 October 2026 at Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro.
Which side controlled the game?
Vasco DA Gama had 59% possession to Boca Juniors' 41%. The result went the other way.
Did the pre-match prediction get it right?
Our model made Vasco DA Gama the pick at 56%, and that was wrong. Every call is recorded in our published accuracy log.