Dodo savored a hat trick feat to award Vasco da Gama a 3-0 win over Friburguense in the fifth round of the Rio de Janeiro state soccer championship on Sunday.

From the road match, Dodo marked his second three-goal performance of the tournament.

Dodo scored his first goal in the 44th minute. From a dead ball outside of the box, he blasted it into the upper right corner of the net, out of reach of a diving Friburguense goalkeeper Marcos.

He scored again in the 83rd minute, heading in a crossed ball from Elder Granja. His third goal came in the 87th minute when Marcio Careca passed off a beautiful ball, leaving Dodo in front of an empty Friburguense net, tapping in the ball to complete his hat trick.

Vasco da Gama's victory takes it to the first place in Group B with 15 points, close to guaranteeing its semifinal berth of the first half of the tournament.

After five rounds, Madureira stands in second place with 12 points, followed by Botafogo, also with 12 points. The top two teams of Group B will vie for spot in the finals against the top team of Group A.

In the next round, Vasco da Gama will travel to play Resende on February 4 when Friburguense will host America, with both team mathematically out of contention of the playoffs.