Romario nets goal 999 in Vasco win

Former Brazil striker Romario took his self-declared career tally to 999 goals on Sunday, scoring the third goal in Vasco da Gama's 3-0 win over arch-rivals Flamengo.

Romario, performing on his favourite stage at the Maracana stadium, scored Vasco's third goal in the 79th minute and was agonisingly close to reaching the 1,000 milestone eight minutes later.

The 41-year-old was left with only Bruno to beat from close range but the Flamengo goalkeeper managed to save the shot with his foot.

Vasco's next game is against Americano in their own and more modest Sao Januario stadium tomorrow and Romario said he would ask club president Eurico Miranda to transfer the game to the Maracana.

"The goalkeeper did his job," said Romario as he left the pitch in the midst of a horde of cameramen and reporters.

"Unfortunately, I scored only one so it will have to wait until the next time."

"I would like the stage to have been at the Maracana, but if it happens somewhere else, that's life. It will be historic wherever I score."

"We won the game and I'm happy to have been part of the team."

Romario has kept his tally with the help of three statisticians and openly admits it includes goals scored in junior, testimonial and club friendly games.

The Carioca championship game began ten minutes late because of the number of reporters trying to interview Romario before kick-off.

Vasco lead Group B in the championship's second stage on nine points from three games. Flamengo, who won the first stage of the complex competition, dropped to fifth out of six in Group A.