The first leg of the Brazilian Cup tie between Clube de Regatas Vasco da Gama and Botafogo RJ ended in a 1-1 draw on August 28, 2025. In a hotly contested Rio derby that kicked off at 08:30, both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils. Vasco da Gama, playing at home, took the lead and looked to be heading for a narrow advantage. However, Botafogo showed great character to fight back and secure a valuable away goal with a late equalizer. The result leaves the tie perfectly balanced ahead of the second leg at Botafogo's stadium, with the away goal potentially proving crucial. Both managers will feel they have a strong chance to progress, setting up a thrilling decider in the return fixture.