Botafogo v America played at Caio Martins on Sun 7th March 2004.

The game was played in perfect weather, if you were a spectator, beautiful blue skies with wispy clouds and a temperature around 33 degrees C.

Botafogo had what I would imagine Levir Culpi, the coach believed was a full strength side, with Alex Alves replacing Dill.

Caio Martins is a small ground where the atmosphere can be electric, but unfortunately the fickle Fogo supporters stayed away in their drove as the game was shown on local TV. The crowd was a disappointing 2,249 (1,268 of which came through the turnstiles), generating 15,218 RS for the club.
Fortunately, Big Stan and I exceeded that amount at Bobs on Bavaria, ‘probably the worst beer in the world’.
I was glad we went to the cheap seats, behind the goals; at least we got some atmosphere.

From what I can remember the game started pretty much as normal, with Fogo stroking the ball around and America playing more like a British team, pumping the ball upfield, but there the similarity ceased because they were putting the into spaces behind our statuesque center backs Sandro and Joao Carlos, who are fine going forward but slow in reverse.
It was strange to see Camacho, the left sided midfielder move over to the right and make some diagonal runs, he has good ball control, but only one decent foot, just like Geoff Astle!
Fogo were making most of the clear cut chances and took the lead after 17 minutes with Jorghino Paulista making one his customary runs up the left side and finding Alex Alves whose shot was adjudged to have hit the hand of a defender and a penalty was given. Alex took the penalty and scored.
Fogo then continued to dominate the game but could not get that two goal cushion until the game went into extra time at the end of the first half and Alex and Camacho and linked up and thumped the ball home.

In the second half Fogo continued to play the ball around but again could not get another goal, for all their efforts. America countered on the break, but the final ball let them down.
Then as America broke forward through the center, Jefferson, the Fogo goalie, who has been playing out of his skin this season for some reason did a Bartie the clown impersonation and handled out of the box when both attacker and ball were going wide. Due to the statues at center back Jefferson was the last man and as such got his marching orders.
Off went Almir, who had done nothing wrong and on came Max, for Jefferson with 25 minutes to try and re-establish himself as the number one goalkeeper.
He did make a couple of good saves that could have quite easily have been goals, and for me he had a good game. But Stan said he was flatfooted, should have had another man in the wall (it did not matter where the free kick was positioned), and Fogo were quite comfortable.
But then Culpi, who in my books is not very good at changing the tempo or the pattern of games played his ace, off went Jorginho Paulista (no, not THAT one) and Alex Alves to be replaced by Daniel and Hugo. The pace of the game suddenly increased, Hugo was in the thick of things, a big youth, holding the ball up and spreading it around. Fogo were buzzing.
There reward was a goal in the 41st minute when I think it was Camacho crossed from the left, Hugo attempted the header but only succeeded to pass the ball across the 6-yard box and seemingly out of play. But Daniel had other ideas, with the ball going over his shoulder he spun and with a scissor kick smashed the ball into the net for the third goal.
With Fogo still celebrating, the crowd singing, America broke forward and within a melee in the box the ball broke to Dudu, the America right back who had only been on the pitch 10 minutes to crack the ball into the net, giving Max no chance.

All in all not a bad result, Fogos first win of the second phase, good goalkeeping from all three keepers. Even Sandro, the Fogo free kick rocket man trying some floaters to the wings. Hugo continues to impress, he has skill as well as strength and could be a force up front with Alex. A peach of a goal from Daniel. A tactical masterstroke from Culpi (sorry I shouted for you to go to Cruziero last game).
The only drawback for me was that Valdo had another quiet game. I guess he was disappointed for being substituted last time out.
But Fogo are now in second place behind the unbeaten Vasco and on the 14th March we could possibly knock Flamengo out of this phase at the Maracana!