By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Botafogo and Flamengo drew 1-1 in the quarter-final first leg of the Copa do Brasil at the Maracanã last night. Flamengo were excellent in the first half and took the lead before Botafogo dominated the second and grabbed a share of the spoils.
Botafogo failed to get the ball to their attack in the initial stages and were under almost constant pressure. On the rare occasion they did threaten, Felipe in the Flamengo goal was never called into drastic action.
Lodeiro and Seedorf could not get a stranglehold on the game and Rafael Marques was left in isolation at the top of the attacking spear. Meanwhile, Flamengo were quick out of the blocks and deservedly took the lead after twelve minutes.
A deep cross from the left was volleyed back across goal by Paulinho and headed in by André Santos. Carlos Eduardo, Flamengo’s principal playmaker of the night in the absence of Elias, was constantly probing at the Botafogo defense as the Rubro-Negro looked to extend their lead.
Goalkeeper Jefferson was twice called into action to keep the score at 1-0. When the half-time whistle came, Botafogo were lucky to still be in the game.
Nevertheless, whatever coach Oswaldo de Oliveira said at the interval had the right effect. Botafogo were a different proposition in the second 45 minutes. Just before the hour mark, they leveled. Hyuri played the ball to Edílson down the right whose shot deflected off Samir and took the ball past Felipe.
Just two minutes later, Rafael Marques could have given Fogo the lead but wasted the chance. With each side playing better for a half, the draw was the fair result. The second leg will be on October 23rd. In the event of another draw, the tie wll be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
In the other game involving a Carioca club last night, Goiás came from behind to beat Vasco 2-1. Edmílson gave the Cariocas the lead in the first minute but strikes from Walter and Roni gave Goiás a slim advantage going into the second leg.
Read more (in Portuguese).
* The Rio Times Daily Updates feature is offered to help keep you up-to-date with important news as it happens.
Read More from The Rio Times