Botafogo 2 Grêmio 1

Another midweek home game at Caio Martins so it must be another chance for Fogo to climb out of the relegation places. Or at least that seems to be the case most weeks. But not tonight. Three points will only keep them within touching distance of the teams just outside the drop zone and just above tonight’s visitors. Surely they couldn’t slip up against a team that is faltering badly and had lost to Fogo only the previous Saturday. That, of course, was the official centenary match for the Kappa cup. Fogo ended up 4-1 winners in what was really a meaningless match but may just give them the psychological edge.

Things had changed since I last saw them against Atletico-PR. PR have stormed into second place while Fogo had replaced their manager Galvao with Bonamigo. The Argentine, Estevez had accepted an offer to return to his homeland. Top scorer, Luizao, had an injury problem, which was costing Fogo too much in medical bills so there is talk of his contract being cancelled. And Ruy is no where to be seen. On the plus side Schwenck seems to have found his shooting boots and has at least scored a few times.

As part of the centenary celebrations they were having half price admission to anyone in a Fogo top. This was all areas except the VIP area. Despite our best efforts to buy tickets for the VIP seats and put a few more pennies in their coffers, we were sold tickets for the Arqibancada Setor B. Obviously a Derby tee shirts is part of the promotion as it cost R$7 per ticket. For this we were behind the high fence on scaffolding seating. Not a great view as the top of the fence seemed to get in the way on several occasions. It didn’t block the view however of tonight’s other attraction. Both assistant referees were women. They looked fetching in their bright yellow tops and tight black shorts, their muscular thighs glistening slightly as they ran the line… I digress. One was blonde and the other a brunette. You can imagine they must spend hours in the front of a mirror at home practicing waving a hairbrush or hair dryer and trying not to look too girly. They must also try various grips on their flag so it doesn’t come across as to erotic. I wonder how long the referee spent before the match with them trying to explain the offside rule. At least he would only have to explain it again to the blonde one at half time.

Fogo started the game as if they meant business. Obviously, a change of tactics by the new manager, Bonamigo. Fogo used to always build slowly but tonight they went for it from the off. Grêmio hardly had a look in during the first twenty minutes. Elvis, Almir and Tulio looked in control of mid field. Valdo, except for set pieces, didn’t seem to want to be involved. Despite all their effort they failed to create many clear chances. Grêmio, for their part, looked a poor team ready for the taking. As is the way at Caio Martins, the expectation of the crowd is way above what the team seems capable of producing. The left back, Renatinho seemed to be picked out for particular chastisement. He managed to find acres of space on the left and although he produced several good crosses, he also managed to give the ball away on a few occasions. He produced a great cross that was met by Schwenck unmarked in the penalty area. Schwenck only had to hit the target to score but decided to throw himself at the ball and put it high and wide. He still isn’t the target man Fogo need. Despite Schwenck, Renatinho found he was being booed on every touch towards the end of the half. For all their huff and puff, Fogo hadn’t really forced the Grêmio keeper into a save.

Valdo was, unsurprisingly, replaced by Teti at the start of the second half. He slotted into the right side of midfield and gave the side a more balanced look. In the third minute Grêmio broke away and carved a way through the Fogo defence. Up until this point they hadn’t been tested. They failed the test as Christian slotted the ball home for a simple goal. Grêmio had scored first in the match the previous Saturday and gone on to loose 4-1. Maybe history would repeat. From the appearance of the Fogo players it looked unlikely. They visibly seemed to fall to pieces and looked nothing like the team of the first half. Grêmio upped the pace and went to try and finish things off. Maybe a better team would have capitalised.

Teti had a chance to draw things level when a cross from Elvis on the right from the right found him unmarked. He had obviously been practicing the move with Schwenck in training as he put the ball way over the bar.

On 20 minutes Fogo were awarded a free kick just outside the right hand side of the area. The abused Renatinho stepped up and placed a superb shot in the top left had corner of the goal with the keeper no where near it. Caio Martins erupted. All the previous insults forgotten and forgiven. Grêmio, for their part, didn’t falls to pieces but tried to get their noses in front but the Fogo defence held firm. On 28 minutes, Renatinho picked the ball up wide on the right and ran at the Grêmio defence. They backed off and he kept running before launching a screaming shot past Marcio in the Grêmio goal. A star is born. Suddenly he can do no wrong.

Grêmio tried their best to get back into it but Fogo held out to gain the victory. Results elsewhere were in their favour. None of the teams just above had won and an amazing away win by Fluminese had dragged Vitoria into the mire. Even the improved Flamengo were within touch again. If only they could improve their finishing. Anyway, back to the lineswomen………..