Vasco da Gama hold on at altitude in Bogotá to take a point from Santa Fe

Vasco da Gama resisted Independiente Santa Fe’s pressure at Bogotá’s 2,640-meter altitude on Tuesday, earning a scoreless draw that leaves their Copa Sudamericana quarterfinal completely open.

Santa Fe began aggressively and thought it had scored in the eighth minute, but the video assistant referee ruled out the move for a marginal offside. Vasco responded with chances that forced goalkeeper Weimar Asprilla to make important saves against Claudio Spinelli, Lucas Piton and José Luis Rodríguez.

The Brazilian side arrived with numerous absences and a poor campaign in the Brazilian league, but it contained Santa Fe’s attacking combinations and reached halftime without conceding. Santa Fe increased the pressure after the break, relying heavily on the tireless 41-year-old Hugo Rodallega.

Franco Fagúndez nearly broke the deadlock in the 67th minute, when his powerful shot struck the crossbar. Vasco’s central defenders, Lucas Freitas and Alan Saldivia, cleared several dangerous attacks. When Santa Fe breached that first defensive line, Léo Jardim kept out efforts from Alexis Zapata, Maximiliano Lovera and Rodallega late in the match.

Santa Fe pressed for a winning goal in the final minutes, but Vasco maintained its defensive solidity. The return leg will be played September 15 at São Januário in Rio de Janeiro. The winner will face Boca Juniors or São Paulo in the semifinals.