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Hat trick Romario keys Vasco da Gama's Copa Mercosur win
Updated: Thursday December 21, 2000 10:55 AM
SAO PAULO (Reuters) -- Veteran striker Romario scored a hat trick, including two penalties, as Vasco da Gama came from three goals behind to beat Palmeiras 4-3 away in an astonishing Copa Mercosur final on Wednesday. Romario completed Vasco's amazing second-half recovery when he tapped in a rebound at the far post in the third minute of injury time for the winner. Palmeiras players collapsed on the field in disbelief and the crowd of 20,000 fell eerily silent. Palmeiras had led 3-0 at halftime in the all-Brazilian final after Francisco Arce, Magrao and Tuta scored in the last 10 minutes of the first half. Former Atletico Madrid and Middlesbrough player Juninho Paulista was involved in all four goals as Vasco hit back after the break. Juninho won the penalties from which Romario scored Vasco's first two goals. He scored the third himself and then produced the shot which led to Romario's final goal. Romario, still one of the world's top players at the age of 34, took his personal tally in all competitions this year to a club record 64. Several Vasco players dedicated the triumph to former coach Oswaldo Oliveira, who had been bizarrely sacked after a game on Saturday for hugging rival coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. Scolari is a bitter personal enemy of Vasco director Eurico Miranda. The only disappointment for Vasco was the performance of central defender Junior Baiano. The former Brazil international needlessly gave away the penalty from which Palmeiras scored its first goal and was sent off for the third time this year in the second half. The match was the third of the final after Vasco won the first game and Palmeiras the second. It was a rare high point in the three-year history of the Mercosur, a made-for-television event in which most games are played in empty stadia and in which many teams choose to field reserve sides. The competition features 20 of South America's biggest clubs, which are handpicked by the South American Football Confederation (CSF). Almost exactly the same teams take part every year. Palmeiras has been in all three Mercosur finals. It beat Cruzeiro in 1998 and lost to Flamengo last year. Lineups: Palmeiras: Sergio, Arce, Gilmar, Galeano, Tiago Silva, Fernando, Taddei, Magrao, Flavio, Juninho and Tuta (Basilio, 77). Vasco da Gama: Helton, Juninho Baiano, Odvan, Jorginho Paulista, Jorginho (Paulo Miranda, 76), Nasa (Viola, 46), Juninho Pernambucano, Juninho Paulista, Euller (Mauro Galvao, 88) and Romario.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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