RIO DE JANEIRO, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Argentine striker Andres Rios netted late as Vasco da Gama won the first leg of Rio de Janeiro's Carioca championship final against Botafogo.
Renato Vieira opened the scoring at the Engenhao stadium, dispossessing Vasco center-back Paulao and rifling a shot past goalkeeper Martin Silva.
Yago Pikachu equalized when he met Wagner's diagonal cross with a fizzing volley that left Paraguayan goalkeeper Gatito Fernandez with no chance.
Pikachu struck again from close range before Brenner's bullet header after a Luiz Fernando cross put Botafogo back on level terms.
Rios guaranteed victory for Vasco when he acrobatically fired in at the far post after a corner in the 93rd minute.
The decisive second leg will be played next Sunday at the Maracana stadium.
