By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Wonderful performances from Daniel and Emerson Sheik helped Botafogo demolish Criciúma 6-0, giving them their first win in the 2014 Campeonato Brasileiro last (Saturday) night. The midfielder Daniel bagged a hat-trick, while veteran forward Sheik scored two in the first show of fluidity at the Maracanã Stadium from the Glorioso this season.
The manner of the victory gave encouraging indications that the side are beginning to respond to new coach Vagner Mancini’s methods. The year has not been kind to Botafogo fans so far, having seen their club suffer early elimination from both the Campeonato Carioca and the Copa Libertadores.
It is the first time Botafogo have scored six in a match in six years, a run that stretches 418 games. The Alvinegro went ahead last night through Emerson Sheik on 22 minutes.
Yet the visitors were not buried right away. Criciúma threatened the Botafogo goal in the closing stages if the first half, but their worrying start to this year’s Brasileirão was not destined to continue.
After the interval, it took the Rio club just eleven minutes to put the game to bed. First, Emerson scored his and the side’s second six minutes into the half.
From then on in, Daniel took over the show. He scored two in two minutes, on 54 and 56, before completing his hat-trick with eighteen minutes still remaining,
He completed the rout by assisting Walyson for the sixth, who scored with a beautiful effort. Botafogo are finally up and running.
This afternoon, Flamengo and Fluminense meet in the second Fla-Flu of the year. Kick-off at the Maracanã is at 4PM, and a crowd of over 60,000 is expected for the clássico.
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