MATCH REPORT - Flu jabbed by Fogo

Fluminense 1 Botafogo 4 - Maracana

The Maracana hadn’t been the happiest of hunting grounds for Fogo this season. The awful 4-0 defeat to Vasco followed by the surrender of a 2-0 lead to them to end up 2-2. Then there was the dire 0-0 with Flamengo when both teams were trying to avoid bottom spot. But then there was the previous fixture with Fluminense back in June, which ended 3-3. It was a marvellous encounter with both teams looking capable of scoring and conceding goals. Since then Flu have gone upwards and onwards and were pushing for qualification for the Copa Sul Americana. Flu hadn’t lost a Rio derby this season and had been in good form since the Returno started and hadn’t lost in the last 8 games. Having said that they had flattered to deceive and managed to grab a win or draw despite being outplayed on several occasions.

Fogo were still buoyant after their win against Paraná the previous week and their draw away to Ponte Preta in midweek. They were out of the bottom four and looking to cement a place in midfield. Either way, goals were to be expected as both sets of defences were liable at any point to collapse.

A good crowd of 20,000 was in the stadium at kick off. Some of the Fogo fans had brought along their Bebeto banner from the previous week and hung over the barriers on the lower section so the TV cameras could get a good view of it. The police soon moved in and started to take the banner down. Why a protest over the ownership of the club should be a police matter I don’t know but after some discussions the banner was put back up. However, several strategically placed stewards directly in front of the banner made sure most of it was obscured.

Fluminense kicked off and went straight onto the attack with Jefferson tested in the first few minutes by Edmundo. Despite the early scare it was Fogo who looked the more confident going forward. Flu seemed to lose their way in midfield and quickly Valdo, Tulio and Ricardinho seized the initiative. Flu obviously hadn’t been doing their homework as Ruy yet again found acres of space on the right. This must be one of the worst kept secrets in Rio that if you give Ruy room he will punish you. One such raid was deflected out for a corner on 10 minutes. Valdo took the corner and the ball found Gustavo on the edge of the box. He knocked the ball back into the far post where Almir squeezed it home.

Immediately Flu tried to raise the tempo with Roger trying to get in on the act. Ramon tried an audacious over head kick, which looked to be sailing over Jefferson’s head, but he managed to back track and palm it over the bar.

On 13 minutes Amir tried to race into the box but was blocked by a defender and the ball broke loose. It was met on the right hand side of the box by Ruy who struck the ball perfectly into the opposite corner of the goal past a desperately diving Henrique. Fogo were in dreamland and Flu looked as though they had run out of ideas. Roger was dropping deeper to try and collect the ball, which is a sure sign things were not going to plan. When he had the ball he seemed reluctant to give it up as though he was losing faith in his teammates. For all Flu’s possession it was Fogo that continued to threaten. Caio in particular could and should have had a couple of goals. It looked as though only one side was capable of scoring. The referee must have sussed this and when Flu had a throw in level with the Fogo box he decided an innocuous challenge by Scheidt on Ramon warranted a penalty. It also earned Scheidt a yellow card. Edmundo stepped up and on 43 minutes slotted the ball into the net from the penalty spot despite Jefferson getting his hand to it. Surely this would Fluminense some hope. Memories of the previous week when Fogo were 2-0 down and turned the game around by scoring just before half time. But, it didn’t seem to break Fogo’s stride as a minute later Ricardinho struck the ball from the left-hand side of the box past Henrique. It was a similar shot to the one Ruy had scored with but this time it unluckily came back off the far upright and deflected off Herique’s back to roll just past the near post for a corner.

Half Time Flu 1 Fogo 2

Fluminense looked to change things around in the second half and get more men forward. However they didn’t create any more chances and left a lot more room at the back for Fogo to exploit. Flu’s defensive pairing of Antonio Carlos and Odovan looked like complete strangers to each other and they were constantly being pulled around by the speed of Ricardinho, Ruy and Caio. Fluminense’s efforts weren’t helped when Juan was sent off for blocking a run by Ruy. It was no more than obstruction and replays show all contact was at chest height. Ruy however fell to the ground theatrically holding his face and Juan walked for his second yellow card. It all looked up for Flu but again Fogo handed them a chance when Scheidt stupidly tripped Tiui, was shown his second yellow card and was given his marching orders. Again, replays show he did try to pull out of the challenge but contact was made. Scheidt decided to take the long way around and walked round the back of the goal kicking the advertising hoarding as he went. Despite this Flu still looked short of ideas and rarely troubled Jefferson. They were awarded a free kick on the right out side the box. Roger hit the kick almost perfectly and left Jefferson stranded as the ball came back of the angle of bar and post. There seemed no way back for Flu.

As the game seemed to be winding down with most of it being played just in side Fogo’s half, Ricardinho broke forward and side stepped two defenders before calmly firing past Henrique to make it 3-1. He ran behind the goal to receive the acclaim of the Fogo faithful and pulled his shirt off. He was promptly booked by the referee for removing his shirt. Another crazy FIFA directive! The game went into injury time with 3 minutes shown by the fourth official. Many of the Flu fans had gathered their banners and were heading for the exits. The Fogo fans, however, were in full voice and when Fogo went through an extended period of possession - each pass was great with a cry of olé. Flu were reduced to chasing shadows. It was cringe worthy to see a player of Roger’s obvious talent reduced to try and foul players in order to regain possession. He failed twice and if either challenge had connected he could well have been sent off. The end of the passing move ended with Ruy and Valdo exchanging passes on the edge of the Flu box and Valdo played a smart ball into the path of Téti. Diego, obviously frustrated at not seeing his team touch the ball in the previous three minutes, launched himself at Téti and brought him down. It was perhaps the most obvious penalty this year and a shame that Téti wasn’t given the chance to score at the end of such a stunning move. However, he was given his chance from the spot. He struck his effort just off centre but Henrique had already gone the other way. And so it finished 4-1. It was thoroughly deserved victory and maybe a turning point for both teams. Fogo’s main rivals didn’t do them many favours but they still moved up to the dizzy height of 17th. Flu remain in 10th but will have to get their act together if they hope to achieve a qualifying spot.

There were so many pluses from Fogo’s performance. Ruy back to fitness and form, the dominant presence in midfield of Valdo and Tulio, the emergence of Ricardinho, and, despite the chances he missed, Caio could also prove to be a big asset. A few more performances like this and we will wonder what we were worrying about only a few short months ago.