- Independiente Medellín and Vasco da Gama drew 2-2 in Colombia in the first leg of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Round of 16 play-offs.
- Luis Amaranto Perea’s side led twice, but the Brazilian team fought back on both occasions to secure a promising result ahead of the decisive second leg at home.
DIM and Vasco could not be separated in the first of two meetings that will determine another team through to the Round of 16 of the South American competition. Olimpia, winners of Group G — which also featured Vasco during the first half of the season — await the winners of the tie.
DIM and Vasco came into the first leg of the Round of 16 play-offs in similar circumstances: both had new coaches and were looking to put their respective campaigns back on track. Experienced coach Perea made his debut in charge of the Colombian side, while Pedro Emanuel oversaw his first international match with the Brazilian outfit.
Vasco controlled possession in the opening minutes. Gradually, that dominance led to more combinations and greater penetration in the final third, producing the first two clear chances of the match. On both occasions, Colombian goalkeeper Eder Chaux kept the visitors out, first in a dangerous one-on-one with Adson and then from a long-range Brenner Marlos effort.
The Cruzmaltino side threatened again before half-time when Portugal’s Nuno Moreira sent a low angled shot narrowly wide.
DIM, however, made the most of their only opportunity just before the half-time whistle. Argentina’s Martegani advanced down the left and found Yoni González, who opted to square the ball for John Montaño rather than shoot when one-on-one with Léo Jardim. The young forward applied the finish to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
The second half could not have started better for Vasco da Gama. Just 30 seconds after the restart, Cuiabano delivered a cross from the left that Uruguay’s Varela, under pressure from Brenner, diverted into his own net.
The visitors failed to capitalise on the momentum generated by the equaliser and gradually surrendered the initiative. The Colombian side grew into the match and, following the drinks break, regained the lead.
Just one minute after coming on, Jeison Medina drove towards the heart of the Vasco penalty area, won a loose ball through sheer determination and found Montaño. The forward’s shot deflected off Carlos Cuesta and found its way past Jardim.
Cuiabano was once again involved as Pedro Emanuel’s side drew level. The left-back pushed forward and picked out Claudio Spinelli with a precise delivery, allowing the striker to score with one of his first touches.
The Argentinian forward once again proved a dangerous weapon away from home. His previous goal in this season’s CONMEBOL Sudamericana had come against Audax Italiano in Chile, in a 2-1 victory.
Both teams appeared content with the draw and avoided taking unnecessary risks in the closing stages, with another 90 minutes still to come in Rio de Janeiro to decide who will face Olimpia in the Round of 16.
The match in numbers:
- John Montaño of Independiente Medellín has registered a direct goal contribution in each of his last two appearances in CONMEBOL competitions — two goals today against Vasco in the Sudamericana and an assist against Cusco in the Libertadores in April — after failing to score or assist in his first six matches in these tournaments.
- Since the start of the 2025 season, only Dayro Moreno (10) has scored more CONMEBOL Sudamericana goals than Claudio Spinelli (6), who is level with Ismael Díaz, Junior Paredes and Bernard.
- John Montaño is the second-youngest Independiente Medellín player to score in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, aged 19 years and 291 days. Only Mauricio Cortés was younger, scoring against Santa Cruz in 2016 at 19 years and 225 days.
- Claudio Spinelli, who scored Vasco’s final equaliser, has now registered a goal contribution in three matches for the Brazilian side in CONMEBOL competitions, scoring twice and providing one assist.
- Vasco’s first goal, Joaquín Varela’s own goal just 16 seconds after the restart, is the fastest second-half goal in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana since records began in 2013. It surpassed Cristian Arango’s strike for Millonarios against Deportivo Cali in 2020, which came after 20 seconds.
- Vasco are unbeaten in their last three CONMEBOL competition matches in which they conceded the opening goal, recording one win and two draws. In their previous 11 such matches, they had managed only one draw and suffered 10 defeats.
- John Montaño is the first Independiente Medellín player to score at least twice in a CONMEBOL competition match since Joaquín Varela struck twice against Palestino in the 2024 Sudamericana.
- This was only Vasco’s second draw in Colombia in CONMEBOL competitions, following a 1-1 result against Atlético Nacional in the Libertadores. Overall, they have played six matches on Colombian soil in these tournaments, recording one win, two draws and three defeats.
- Both Vasco goals against Independiente Medellín came from Cuiabano crosses: his assist for Claudio Spinelli and Joaquín Varela’s own goal.
