Botafogo 5 Internacional 1

My first visit to Caio Martins and I was impressed. Not by the stadium. It’s got that “it will be nice when it’s finished” look about it even though it looks as if should have been finished years ago. No the impressive thing is the atmosphere created by the fans. The constant noise and swell of the crowd is far more intimidating to the opposition than the wide-open spaces of the Maracana. The view of the pitch from my seat in the “VIP” section isn’t as good as the view afforded from just about any seat in the Maracana but you are so close to the action you almost feel a part of it. The Fogo faithful gather behind the goal to the right and that is where most of the noise comes from. The opposite end also makes them selves heard with drums and chants. The away fans were tucked away in the opposite right-hand corner behind a floodlight pylon. Not the greatest view and they could be seen craning their necks every time play was at the opposite end. The away team’s subs bench is placed just in front of their fans so they can share the discomfort together. The perimeter fences, a throw back to the bad old days back home, do enough to block your view in the absence of peanut sellers. Of course, the best seats seem to come with a flat attached. Surprisingly most of these seats were not taken bringing to mind the old Middlesborough adage of “if they were playing in my back garden I would close the curtains”.

Botafogo were at full strength and looking to carry on the good work of the previous two games. Internacional were sitting in 5th place at kick off and must have thought, given Fogo’s previous home form, the points were there for the taking.

Internacional started the game looking the better team and also not afraid to leave a boot in where it hurt. The pace of the game was fast but Fogo couldn’t get started and the first 10 minutes was an uneven bad tempered affair with a spate of bookings. Ruy managed to find acres of space on the right as usual but his first touch and passing was letting him down. He was fouled several times before finally going off injured in the 15 minute. As most of the play seemed to go through him it would be easy to assume this would disrupt Fogo’s play. It didn’t and a slight reshuffle saw Fogo start to play. Almir took charge of directing play on the left and Fogo set about laying siege to the Internacional goal.

On 20 minutes Fogo won a corner on the left and Almir neatly flicked the ball home with his head to make it 1-0. It was no more than they deserved. There then followed wave after wave of Fogo attacks but poor finishing, especially by Luizao kept the score down. As the half progressed Internacional came more into it although they didn’t produce any clear-cut chances.

On 40 minutes, Internacional defender Chiquinho received a second yellow card after an innocuous challenge and fussy refereeing. It was good to see the “elite” in the VIP section rushing over to the tunnel area to shower Chiquinho with abuse as he headed for the early bath through the crowds of reporters trying to interview him.

Half time 1-0

The second half belonged to the Argentinean, Raul Estevez. He and Almir ran the Internacional defence ragged. It was fitting when in the third minute of the half the pair combined to double Fogo’s lead. A run by Almir on the left resulted in a low hard cross that seemed to evade everyone and gave Estevez a simple tap in for his fist goal for Botafogo.

The forward link play of Almir, Estevez and Luizao was, at times, joy to watch. Unfortunately most of the chances fell to Luizao and his finishing couldn’t match his part in the build up. He ran the line like and old fashioned centre forward and it’s to his credit the way he held the play up to allow others to join in and get him self in dangerous positions. If he had taken half his chances Internacional would have been dead and buried. He didn’t and for a spell in the middle of the half, Internacional came back into it. On 65 minutes a brilliant run on the right ended with a cross shot that flew past Jefferson in the Fogo goal but rebounded off the upright. This served as a warning of what was to come and a few minutes later Sobis cut in from the left and let fly from 20 yards. The ball flew into the Fogo net and for a moment it looked as though Botafogo might regret those missed chances.

As it turned out within a minute of the restart the referee decided to re establish Fogo’s two goal lead by awarding them a penalty. Tulio, moving up from midfield, ran into the box and seemed to miss hit his cross and fell over in the process. The ref immediately pointed to the spot even though no one seemed to claim for it. If there was contact it was the merest of touches. It was a chance for Luizao to claim the goal his play had deserved and he duly dispatched the penalty.

It was the end of Internacional and they looked a beaten team. The small crowd of travelling fans showed their displeasure at the ref being an obvious “homer” by showering their subs bench with cups and forcing their subs to watch the game from elsewhere.

Again Botafogo swarmed forward with Valdo and Tulio in particular playing well. In fact the whole midfield looked dominant. But it was the eye catching Estevez that set up the fourth. A great jinking run on the right, beating two defenders before delivering a perfect cross to the far post. The cross was met by Luizao who’s header looped over the keeper and onto the bar. It fell into the path of Camacho, a first half sub for Ruy, and he calmly chested it over the line.

Botafogo had several more chances before firstly Almir, and then Estevez were substituted to a standing ovation. Their job was done but Teti took up the role of tormentor and he created a couple of chances again not taken by Luizao. The game was rounded off in injury time when a run by Tulio on the right resulted in a low hard drive that somehow went under the keeper.

It was hard on Internacional but in reality Botafogo could have had 10. So seven points from three games, 10 goals scored and 5 conceded. Botafogo are the team to see for entertainment value these days.

And yes, I did buy the tee shirt!