Botafogo 4 Paraná 3

I couldn’t believe it. A queue, a long one at that, waiting to get into Caio Martins. Most of the queue seem to be in their mid to late teens. Maybe new signing Caio is a bit of a sex god and the youth of Niteroi have turned up in their hundreds to pay homage. But no. It turns out that hot Brazilian band, Jota Quest, are playing in the sports arena behind Caio Martins. Passing the queue I came to the normal man and his dog going through the turnstile. So I decided on a change of view and I entered the Sports Arena end and climbed the scaffolding stand to take my seat. There was a junior match taking place. Botafogo v Someone else. The kids look very small but are using the full length of the pitch. The first noticeable thing is that a lot of them have natural skill and aren’t afraid to take on the opposition. The trouble is they tend to take it too far and most attacks run out of steam after a long run. They seem to have learned a bit from their elders as the odd cynical challenge is made. There is also the dramatic dive and rolling around on the ground as though they had been shot. It’s a pity they don’t just learn the good habits. One player on the Fogo youth team stands out. Not only as she is taller than the rest but also as she is the only girl on the pitch. She has good control and passing skills, didn’t go down like a ton of bricks under the slightest challenge and almost scored with a header after a late run into the box. The effort was well palmed away by the very small keeper. The last ten minutes were a blur of substitutions. I didn’t see any goals but I’m reliably informed Fogo won 1-0.

So, onto the main event. Paraná were sitting below Fogo in the league, had a goal difference of –24 and had lost 11 times on their travels. If ever there was a team there for the taking this was they. Fogo had lost Scheidt, Elvis and Tulio through suspension but welcomed back Ruy and new striker Caio. Even with the changes Fogo must have felt confident but as we have seen so many times this season, it all depends which Fogo turns up. News that Flamengo had thrown a way the lead and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory heartened the crowd. Further news of Vasco conceding 5 at home also added to the cheer. The Furia Jovem fans behind the goal had hung their banners upside down again in protest. The only one of the five Paraná fans that turned up to have a banner couldn’t find any where to put it so just laid it out on the terrace.

As the players took to the pitch so the concert in the hall behind kicked off. The hall had open sides so I had a clear view of the stage through the scaffolding. The first band was a sort of country rock outfit. They sounded good and their sound easily drowned the tannoy in Caio Martins. The Paraná subs and technico greeted their sparse away following as if they knew them all individually. There was probably room for them all on the subs bench if they squashed up.

From the off it was obvious that Paraná hadn’t come to make up the numbers. They defended in numbers and broke quickly forward again in numbers. Their midfield closed down the Fogo midfield and made life difficult for them. Fogo seemed to be having trouble finding each other with their passing and the defence was being called upon to often. Luckily it seemed Paraná were content to shoot from distance and couldn’t hit the target. Which is more than could be said for Fogo. It’s hard to recall any early chances they had. It really came as no surprise when Paraná broke forward again in the 15th minute and a snap shot from Galváo could only be parried into his own net by Jefferson. The silence was deafening. The five Paraná fans seemed too stunned to cheer. The Fogo fans began to grumble to them selves. Surely just a hick up. The game carried on in much the same way. Fogo found it hard to string two passes together. The crowd, as they do, began to single out players. Almir, who was having a stinker and Valdo seemed to be the subject of most of the abuse. I’ve said before that considering the plight of the club, the fans seem to have very high expectations. Fogo are in the position they are in because they aren’t very good. If they had better players they would be higher up the league. Valdo has been one of the more consistent players and tonight he was having a reasonable game. He made him self available as an outlet for the defence and found space in midfield. Ruy at right back looked as though he wasn’t fully fit. He went on his usual runs into space but then had trouble getting back into position when the attack inevitably broke down. It didn’t come as a great surprise when Paraná doubled their lead. They were awarded a free kick about 25 yards out and to the right. Jefferson seemed to have trouble lining his wall up but it didn’t matter as Canindé struck a perfect freekick into the top right hand corner of the net. 2-0, and well deserved! The Fogo faithful had enough and began catcalls and jeering the team. The Furia unfurled a banner protesting against the club owners. This rallied the rest of the fans who actually raised the volume and tried to get behind the team. It was also about this time that the second band took to the stage behind the ground. This time a more straight forward rock group. The sound was excellent.

The first half rocked to a close as the fourth official held up the board showing one minute to be added. Before that minute could be completed Fogo launched their first real attack of the half. A cross into the box found Schwenck in front of goal. He struck it well but too straight. Flavio in the Paraná goal managed to push it out but only to the feet of Caio who smashed the ball home. The stadium erupted. They only had time to restart before the ref blew his whistle. The lift in the stadium was visible and even the players held their heads higher as they went off the pitch.

Almir was replaced by Ricardinho at half time. Whether it was this or the severe bollocking they must have received at half time no one will know. But Fogo looked a different team and suddenly attacked with purpose. Seven minutes into the half and Schwenck ran onto a great through ball and calmly slotted it past the stranded Flavio for 2-2. The stadium was bouncing now. 3 minutes later and substitute Ricardinho found himself in the box and despite trying to give the ball away, it came back off the defender and he stuck it in the net for 3-2. Suddenly every one of them was a hero in the eyes of the fans. The Paraná fans sat quietly and possibly, given their goal difference, not surprised. Even the sound of the rap rock band now on stage was being drowned. I was waiting for complaints from the concert organiser about the noise. But all credit to Paraná. They didn’t collapse or fold. They continued with their game plan and even brought on more strikers. They continually came forward but good performances at the back by Gustavo and Carlos Albert kept them at bay. News that Santos were in the lead against Vitoria meant that holding the lead was even more important. Radios were being listened to all around the ground. As the game drew to a close Paraná threw everything forward and on 42 minutes one such attack broke down and Fogo went on the counter attack. Schwenck found himself in almost the identical position to his first goal and repeated the finish. The crowd was now dancing in time to the band currently on stage. Now all they wanted was for the ref to blow his whistle. 3 minutes were added and just to add to the tension Paraná were given a free kick on the left, just outside the box. Marcel stepped up and produced another perfect fee kick and placed the ball beyond a despairing Jefferson. The crowd was now screaming for the final whistle. The ref duly obliged and Fogo climbed out of the bottom 4 for the first time this season.

Fogo must set their sites on the teams just above them. Atletico-MG are only a point ahead and slipping. Flamengo and Vasco are only two points ahead. Vasco in particular look vulnerable. Maybe they have a partnership in Schwenck and Caio that will produce goals and returning players can only be a good thing. Getting out of the bottom four is one thing. The trick is to stay out.