RIO DE JANEIRO, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Vasco da Gama overcame Bragantino 2-1 on Thursday to reach the last eight round at the 2008 Brazil Cup, a nationwide soccer competition played by champions and runners-up of last year's state tournaments.

    Playing at home at the Sao Januario Stadium in Rio, Vasco opened the score in the 28th minute from a forward Jean drive.

    In the second half, Bragantino's midfielder Somalia was sent off after committing a foul. In the following free kick, Vasco midfielder Leandro Bonfim hit the post, but defender Eduardo got the rebound and scored again for the hosts in the 57th minute.

    Although one of their players was missing, the visitors managed to reduce Vasco's lead with a goal scored by forward Nunes in the 86th minute.

    With the result, Bragantino was eliminated from the knockout competition, as it had tied Vasco 2-2 in the first leg on March 20.