Fluminense 3 Botafogo 3

Gary McVeigh

It felt like I had come full circle as my first experience of Brazilian football had been Botafogo v Fluminense at the Maracana just after I arrived in Brazil in February. That was a Carioca Championship match and produced one of the most drab and dreary 0-0 results you could expect to see. Was this really what Brazilian football was all about? I was also looking for a Rio team to follow and Botafogo looked the obvious choice. They play in black and white, just like my team of choice, Derby, although the stripes put them a bit too near Newcastle or Notts County! They have a glorious past but are suffering lean times and have a cool crest, although, I’m not sure you could call a Ram outline cool but I do like the Fogo star!

My last viewing of Botafogo was the dreadful performance against Vasco at the Maracana a few weeks ago when the defence, and to be honest, the whole team put up a performance that would have made the Keystone Kops blush. Chief clown on that occasion was Botafogo’s own Huggy Bear, Valdo, whose inability to pass, control, shoot or play football in general made you wonder if his Brazilian passport was a fake.

Fluminense, on the other hand, were impressive on my last sighting winning against what turns out to be a very poor Flamengo at the Maracana. Roger, in particular, had run the Mengo defence ragged and must have been relishing playing against a team that had conceded 20 goals in its previous 10 outings.

So, Fluminense are the high flying team (in Rio terms) in mid table and full of confidence and Fogo have a leaky defence, yet to win this season and are propping up the league. Another 4-0 drubbing was on the cards.

Before the game started the 12,000 crowd were treated to the finest performance on the pitch of the Maracana by an Englishman since John Barnes had Samba’d through the Brazilian defence back in June 1984, when Jake Bennett took to the field as a Botafogo mascot for the day. Maybe Jake could bring them some luck.

The game started at a blistering pace with wave after wave of Fogo attacks. Was this really the same team who previously couldn’t string two passes together. The bald figure of Ruy in particular looked outstanding at rightback although he spent most of the game pushing forward and exposing wide open spaces on the Flu left. He even popped up in the centre forward position on several occasions. Was this a tactic as Fogo had their two main strikers suspended? Fluminense seemed content to sit back and use the skill of Roger to catch them on the break. Botafogo’s play was a delight to watch. It was only a matter of time before the obvious happened and on 16 minutes Almir raced through the Fluminense defence and slotted the ball home with ease to put Fogo one up. The Fogo drums pounded out but it only seemed to irritate Fluminense. Within a minute of the restart Xavier clumsily brought down Junior Cesar in the box and the ref pointed to the spot. Romario, who obviously hadn’t taken the Beckham penalty masterclass, took his longest run of the day and sidefooted the ball past Jefferson to make it 1-1.

Fogo continued to play the silky football but it was Fluminense who predictably took the lead. Clever play on the left of the box by Roger left the defence flat footed and his cross/shot was deflected by Daniel into his own net. The Fogo faithful were deflated but not the team. They continued to play well with even Valdo having an inspired match. Only good goalkeeping by Henrique in the Fluminense goal kept it at 2-1 at half time.

The second half started as the first had ended. Fogo pushing forward and Fluminense only threatening when Roger decided to get involved again. A 25 yard swerving shot by him rebounded the same distance off the post and he was always a threat. It looked as though Fluminense could step up a gear whenever required. It was, however, Botafogo who squared things when a bizarre slow motion 25 yarder from Carlos Alberto, a second half substitute, flew into the top left of the goal. Everyone seemed frozen until it hit the back of the net. Even the drinks and ice cream sellers, who contrive to block your view at every opportunity, couldn’t block the full range of the strike. But, as they say, history repeats itself. Within two minutes Fluminense were ahead again. Roger fooled the defence on the right of the area and chipped a clever ball towards the six-yard box. Arilson was the first of two Fluminese players to the ball and he forced it home from close range. From my position, behind the passing peanut seller, they both looked offside but the goal stood and time was running out for Botafogo. Their afternoon looked summed up when 10 minutes from the end Almir scored a near identical goal to the Fluminense’ third but this one was called offside. It wasn’t going to be their day. And even if they did score then Fluminense would just rush up field and score again. Unless you score with the last kick of the game! And that’s what they did. Despite a rather strange silent protest from their fans, Fogo pressed forward and in the third minute of injury time a chip into the box by Carlos Alberto was missed by the defender and second half sub Teti smashed home the equaliser. The plan worked as the ref blew for time upon the restart.

It was less than Botafogo deserved as they had played the better attacking football throughout the game. Ruy, my man of the match, is a class act. Maybe the addition of Scheidt, despite his association with Scottish football, and the Argentine, Raul Esteves, might just turn the tide. Or perhaps it was Jake on the field that made all the difference. More performances like this, and who knows, I might even buy the tee shirt.