The 4-1 Vila Velha Tritoes will play host to the Vasco da Gama Patriotas F.A. (4-1) Saturday, October 14 at Kléber Andrade Stadium in Cariacica, in the first round of the Brazilian playoffs.
This will be the second meeting this season between the two teams and the 11th overall in a rivalry that the Tritoes lead 6-4. The Patriotas won the first game of the regular season, beating Vila Velha 24-18. However, this will be a very different Tritoes team. Head coach Lonnie Hursey and his quarterback LaParish Lewis had only just arrived so the offensive playbook was pretty thin.
Hursey:
“After the first game of the year when we lost to the Patriots we wanted our chance to play them again. We felt that If Laparish and I did not show up only 2 weeks before the game we would have been more prepared. This is now our chance to prove that to ourselves.”
Playoffs Superliga Nacional 2016 | Tritoes 40 – 43 Patriotas F.A. | Photo: Léo Silveira.
Lewis has had an outstanding season in Brazil and is the second leading touchdown scorer with 11 TDs in five games. Recife Mariners Alex Allen led the league with 12 TDs although he played one more game.
Although both head coaches are aware of the improvement of Vila Velha since that first game, Patriotas head coach (and national team coach) Gabriel Mendes is also confident about his team:
“But the Patriots also improved a lot, despite the decisive defeat in the last round [lost to Sada Cruzeiro]. The good part is that the team did not let the score bother them and they are focused and determined to be among the top eight teams in the country again.”
The winner of this game will face the winner of the game between Sada Cruzeiro and the Botafogo Reptiles.
Watch the game live here. Page goes live 30 minutes before kickoff.
Patriotas F.A @Vila Velha Tritoes Sat. Oct. 14 7p (6p EDT, Oct. 15 12a CEST)