By Lisa Flueckiger, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With their sixth successive defeat and 22nd in total after 37 games Botafogo has been relegated to Brazil’s second division Serie B for next season. The Glorioso lost 0x2 against Santos after a brace by former Seleção (Brazil national team) striker Leandro Damião and sealed their fate for a second time in the lower house in the club’s history.
Botafogo had an overall bad campaign and was the club with the most defeats in 2014. They had lost their opening game against São Paulo FC with 3×0 and just scored 31 goals the entire season while conceding 48 goals. The last time they scored recently was October 25th.
Botafogo is the second club that will be relegated to the Serie B after Criciúma. Bahia, Vitória and Palmeiras will be battling for the remaining spot that saves them from relegation in this season’s last round next Sunday (December 7th).
The new season in the Serie B will bring a lot of changes for the Alvinegro. They have just elected a new president Carlos Eduardo Pereira, who has to restructure not only the team, but more importantly the club’s finances. Also more than ten players are at the end of their contract and will be difficult to hold.
Fellow Carioca clubs Fluminense and Flamengo faired a lot better this weekend. Similar to last weekend, both clubs scored a lot of goals, but will end the season on midfield spots in the table.
Flamengo won 4×0 against Vitória in the Arena Amazonia in Manaus. The only goal in the first half was an own-goal by Kadu who had tried to save the ball from the line. In the second half, Elton confirmed Flamengo’s lead and after a second yellow card for Vitória’s Escudero, Everton and Nixon wrapped it up.
Fluminense won 5×2 against Corinthians, but failed to secure a spot in the Libertadores. The club from São Paulo had opened the score after only five minutes with a goal from Guerrero, but Ralf equalized with an own-goal in the ending minutes of the first half.
In the second half, a brace from Fred, who is now leading the top scorer list, and a goal from Edson brought the club from Laranjeiras into the lead. After a second yellow for Tricolor Marlon, Corinthians’ Danilo tried to bring the club back, but it was Flu’s Dario Conca who scored the last goal.