Botafogo 1 Palmeiras 1

I was hoping my journey to the stadium would be a bit more direct than my previous visit. I had got into the back of a taxi in Niteroi and, in my best sounding foreign accent, said firmly but slowly, “Botafogo futeball”.

The driver nodded enthusiastically and repeated “Botafogo – sim” He set of in what I thought was the wrong direction. Perhaps he knew a short cut to avoid the traffic. But no, he kept going.  I realised then, he was heading for the bridge back over to Rio. Either he was going to milk the stupid gringo for all he was worth or…. he was heading for Botafogo! I leaned forward and protested “No, no - futebol EM NITEROI”.

The driver looked at me in the mirror and slowed down. His mind was obviously turning it over. Then a look of realisation and he turned around and said “Caio Martins?” As we were in heavy traffic and about to go onto the bridge, I just wanted him to turn back around and look at the road. I said “Sim, Caio Martins”. He shrugged, waved his hands and veered off to the right. The detour added thirty minutes to the journey.

Tonight I came prepared and had even written ‘Caio Martins’ on a piece of paper to back up my dodgy pronunciation. But it wasn’t required and the taxi found its way there for R$25 less than the previous week.

 I had decided to try another view of the game and leave the ‘prawn sandwich’ brigade to the VIP section. This time I was on the opposite side of the pitch in the Arquibancada Branca. The first surprise in the away fans and home fans enter by the same turnstile. I couldn’t see this happening at Leeds or Millwall, especially as there appears to be a bit of history between the clubs. So, for R$25, the same price as the white seats at the Maracana, you get to sit on concrete steps. It was quite a busy section and for part of the game I had someone sitting on my feet. The steps aren’t really wide enough for feet and bums but no one else seemed concerned. The biggest shock is the floodlight pylon placed right in the middle of the steps about level with the half way line. No matter which side of it you sit you will have a blocked view of almost a quarter of the pitch. Obviously the architect was a Flamengo fan.

 Before the game a club rep walked the edge of the pitch obviously picking out prospective mascots for the game. He stopped just in front of me and seemed to be pointing in my direction. I excitedly pointed at myself and awaited confirmation. But he just waved his hand and made a behind you type gesture. He was obviously pointing at the little fat kid behind me. I tried to line myself up with his pointing finger but he wanted the kid in the Fogo top. This kind of thing happened to me regularly as a child. I was always picked after the ‘little fat kid’ whenever we were picking teams to play football. Forty years later and it’s still happening! It was made worse when the next kid he picked didn’t want to go and he still never came back for me.

 Botafogo had virtually the same team that won 5-1 only last week against Internacional. Ruy was still missing through injury and was replaced by Rodrigo Fernandes at right back. The impressive combination of Luizao, Almir and Esteves would lead the attack and try and carry on the good work of the past few weeks and put behind them Saturdays defeat at Vitoria.

 The first half started almost identically to the previous weeks encounter with Inter. Fogo were slow to get it together and Palmeiras looked confident going forward. Most of the Palmeiras play came down left and it quickly became apparent that young Rodrigo Fernandes was out of his depth and looked the weak link in the Fogo chain. As last week, Fogo slowly came into it and Esteves began to cause Palmeiras problems. How Boca can afford to let a player of his obvious quality out on loan is a mystery as is why, if he is available, one of the ‘bigger teams’ didn’t go after him. Luizao’s first touch let him down on a few occasions but Fogo always remained a threat.

Just when it looked as though Fogo had got into their stride Palmeiras were awarded a penalty for an obvious handball deep in the box. Maques, trying to block a cross from the right, raised his arms and the ball rebounded of them. The ref had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Pedrinho stepped up but smashed the ball off the upright with Jefferson beaten. The Fogo fans erupted in celebration as if they had won the cup. There was along way to go but I had the feeling Palmeiras would have been tough to break down if defending a lead. It was a bit of luck Fogo needed. Esteves continued to terrorise the Palmeiras defence switching from the left to the right. The midfield looked comfortable with Valdo and Fernando controlling things. Rodrigo Fernandes continued to struggle and it soon was obvious that his team mates were looking for other options rather than pass to him. He was booked mid way through the first half for a silly pull back on a Palmeiras player while in the oppositions half.

A good run on the right by Esteves led to a teasing cross that Luizao controlled with his chest and lobbed towards the goal all in one movement. It was a moment of great skill and, despite leaving Sergio stranded in the Palmeiras goal, the ball rebounded of the angle of crossbar and post.

Palmeiras always looked dangerous on the break but the Fogo defence remained strong. Jefferson in the Fogo goal had a few hearts in mouths when he elected to punch the ball away when catching it seemed the easier option. The first half ended goaless but was one of the most attacking 0-0 halves you would see.

 The second half carried on the way the first had finished. It was developing into an open game with both sides going for the win. An early attack by Palmeiras led to Jefferson fumbling a cross shot onto the post. The ball bounced back into the path of an oncoming striker and Jefferson made amends with a brilliant reaction save. At the other end there was another good run from Esteves on the right. He crossed the ball for the impressive Almir to head goalwards. A great save by Sergio pushed the ball onto the post and out of play for a corner.

Whenever Fogo broke down the left there was a surge of supporters trying to see beyond the pylon to follow play. Maybe a hacksaw would be a good thing to bring next time.

On 65 minutes the goal came that the Fogo fans had been waiting for. Again, Esteves created the opportunity with a run and cross. It was met in the middle by Luizao, who half volleyed it home. The stadium erupted as a majority of the 4500 fans celebrated. Ironically the goal came only a minute after Rodrigo Fernandes had been replaced by Camacho. The team reshuffled and looked stronger for it. Fogo went in search of the second. Valdo looked stronger and fitter as the game continued and was pulling all the strings. A very impressive performance for a 40 year old.

The Fogo faithful unfurled a banner of a Saint behind the goal they were defending. The defence at this point didn’t look as if they needed divine intervention and repelled everything Palmeiras had. Palmeiras made two substitutions including Diego Souza in the brightest luminous yellow boots ever seen. His magic boots didn’t help him as his first pass went straight out of play much to the amusement of the crowd.

Fogo carried the game to Palmeiras but on 81 minutes it all went wrong. Another Fogo attack was developing but was broken down by Elson in midfield. Everyone in the stadium saw he used his hand to bring the ball down. Everyone apart from the referee, who incredulously waved play on. From that point it was an obvious outcome. Elson played the ball into the Fogo box and substitute Gentil forced the ball under Jefferson for the equaliser. The crowd bayed for the ref’s blood and several chants questioning where he likes to take it, rang out. Palmeiras were happy with a point and the game ended at 1-1. On the final whistle the Fogo goalkeeping coach and Galvao, the team manager, both rushed onto the field to remonstrate with the ref who had be escorted away.

Perhaps before the game if they had been offered a draw against the current top team they might have taken it but in the end they deserved the win and it was cruelly taken from them by a terrible refereeing decision. Then can take heart from the performance. It was an exciting game between two attacking teams and the neutral would not have been able to distinguish top from bottom. Results elsewhere, apart from Flamengo losing, didn’t go in their favour. Games against top opposition are coming thick and fast with a visit to Cruzeiro next followed by a home game with Sao Paulo next Tuesday. If Fogo are to have hope of avoiding the drop then they must take something from these games before the six pointer against Flamengo at the Maracana in two weeks.

Meanwhile I think I’ll avoid the floodlight pylon next time and risk the bouncing scaffolding stand behind the goal.