THE GLOBE
Maturity to rejuvenate the classic grandpa
With nerves and the game under control, Botafogo beats Fla 3-0 and relives, with Flu, a final that has not taken place for 11 years.
Pedro Motta Gueiros
In children's competitions, it's common for the referee to gather the teams before the game for an educational talk. After tearful battles, kicks, and headbutts, Péricles Bassols Cortez had to do the same yesterday with the experienced and well-paid professionals. Ever since the players embraced in the center of the Maracanã field, old adversaries put on the most politically correct edition of the classic that decided the last State Championship and the Guanabara Cup in Flamengo's favor. With the team and nerves in the right place, Botafogo took the weight of one rivalry and faced another. With yesterday's 3-0 victory over Flamengo, the black and white team will compete for the Rio Cup title against Fluminense, against whom it hasn't played a final in 11 years.
In 1997, a 0-0 draw with Fluminense gave Botafogo the Taça Rio title, and they would go on to win the state championship that year. Because they're so rare, decisive clashes in Rio's oldest football derby carry a certain uniqueness. None of the 28 players who played yesterday were born when Fluminense and Botafogo last decided the state championship, in 1971, with a 1-0 victory for Fluminense. At the time, the black and whites lamented the failure to award a foul on goalkeeper Ubirajara Motta during Lula's goal. Unlike historic defeats with controversial plays, Botafogo's victory yesterday was unquestionably superior.
The mood of the fans and players was also clear. After the dangerous wave of violence, it was time to take responsibility. In the stands, a huge banner mobilized "Mengão against dengue fever" while president Márcio Braga took the field with a Tibetan banner. On the scoreboard, the call for the liberation of the province echoed the black and white banner's motto: ethics, respect, and attitude.
Souza avoids Castillo but greets Túlio
Except for Souza and Castillo's refusal to greet each other, there was cordiality on the field. Early in the match, Flamengo invited Botafogo to play on their field. The red-and-blacks only got on the attack in the 10th minute, when Juan took a corner kick and Kleberson's header beat Castillo, but Diguinho saved on the line. Later, Souza fouled Túlio and greeted his former rival. Without the same courtesy, Triguinho stuck close to Renato Augusto to listen to instructions on the sidelines, angering coach Joel Santana.
Using his head, Zé Carlos further inconvenienced him. By deflecting a corner kick from Lúcio Flávio in the 39th minute, the midfielder left Wellington Paulista free to make it 1-0 and open up a commanding lead in the Carioca scoring charts, with 14 goals to Washington's nine. The move was very similar to Wellington's goal in the 2-0 victory over Fluminense in the Guanabara Cup semifinal. In the second half, Botafogo once again played their best. Alessandro had already sent a clear chance wide when Bruno unleashed a shot as wild as Flamengo's at that point. In the 15th minute, Zé Carlos crossed from the left, and this time, Alessandro calmly made it 2-0 with a cross-shot.
With their opponents at a loss, Botafogo kept creating counterattacks with more attackers than defenders. In the 25th minute, Toró collided with Jorge Henrique, and the referee awarded a penalty. Lúcio Flávio scored the third in the 28th minute. Despite the elimination and the second consecutive loss to their rivals, the red-and-black fans applauded the team in recognition of the effort put in Wednesday's Libertadores victory.
Not to mention that the classic has become a Buddhist cult, in the stands, the black-and-white chants celebrated the suffering of others and danced the "créu" (the black and white song) without offending anyone. In the stands, a small red-and-black fan danced and waved her arms to the sound of the black-and-white celebration. When soccer is seen as nothing more than a healthy pastime, in the end, everyone applauds Botafogo and the revival of the classic.
Yellow cards: Jorge Henrique, Lucio Flavio, Triguinho, Toro, Ibson and Leonardo Moura. Revenue: R$916.218,50. Attendance: 43.385 paying spectators.
FLAMENGO
BRUNO: Not at fault for the goals, he made good saves from Wellington Paulista's header and from deflecting the striker's shot before Alessandro's goal. 6,5.
LEONARDO MOURA: A very discreet performance. He had already been one of the most subdued players in the victory over Cienciano. 3.
FÁBIO LUCIANO: Once again, he struggled against the greater agility and movement of Wellington Paulista. 3,5.
RONALDO ANGELIM: Despite constant problems with the black and white team's increased movement, he tried to lead the team forward out of desperation. 4.
JUAN: Even without the agility of other games, he didn't hold back. He took the corner kick in the team's best chance. 4,5.
CRISTIAN: He held his own as a third defender until Botafogo opened the scoring. With the deficit, he needed to get out into the game more. 3,5. He was replaced by OBINA, who was too far from the box, where he could only fight for the ball. 3.
IBSON: He started the game trying to organize the team, but ended up disappearing. 4.
TORÓ: The game was played fairly until the start of the second half, when he started the list of yellow cards and outrageous complaints, for which he could have been sent off. During the penalty kick, he only collided with Jorge Henrique, but his history speaks against it. 3.
KLEBERSON: He was only seen when he jumped between the defenders to head the ball dangerously. The rest of the game was melancholic. 3.
RENATO AUGUSTO: He wasted attacks due to individualism. Like the entire team, he felt fatigue and the black and white dominance. 4. He was replaced by DIEGO TARDELLI, who had little time and little desire. 4.
SOUZA: He fought alone up front until he felt unwell and left at halftime. 4,5. He gave way to MARCINHO who couldn't find his place on the field. 3,5.
JOEL SANTANA: His team was predictable, lost the midfield and had no power to react. 4.
ARBITRATION
Péricles Bassols Cortez awarded a dubious penalty in favor of Botafogo and reversed fouls but did not compromise the result of the game.
Fla holds back his tears but complains about the referee with irony and insinuations
Joel and Kleber say that not even the Hungarian national team would beat Botafogo
Photo caption: TORÓ loses his balance after colliding with striker Jorge Henrique, in a dubious play in the classic...
Photo caption: ...AFTER THE SHOCK, the red-black team, watched by Kleberson and Leonardo Moura, falls spectacularly
Márcio Tavares
Coach Joel Santana and defender Fábio Luciano tried to avoid paying lip service. They praised Botafogo's performance, acknowledged their opponent's superiority, and refined their rhetoric, saying the defeat was a thing of the past and that now they should focus on the Libertadores and, later, the Carioca final. But it was clear the whining had changed. Without the drama of the Guanabara Cup final, but with plenty of irony, Flamengo criticized referee Péricles Bassols Cortez, even though the 3-0 scoreline clearly indicated the black and white team's superiority.
Before the derby at the Maracanã, Flamengo's management was already commenting in the red-and-black locker room that it would be difficult for the red-and-black to reach the Taça Rio final. On Friday, coach Joel Santana warned of "hidden forces" that could influence the outcome. At Gávea, there was suspicion that it wouldn't be in the interest of Ferj, so heavily attacked by president Márcio Braga, for Flamengo to reach the final and win the title early, without a grand final.
After the game and a long delay, vice president of football Kleber Leite appeared in the interview room before Fábio Luciano. The director was ironic.
"We're coming off an exhausting week, a heroic journey. I'm sure not even the 1954 Hungarian national team would beat Botafogo today," said Kleber Leite.
Angry, Juan complains about the refereeing as he leaves the field
Interestingly, Joel used the same image as the manager, adding to the context other teams famous for their strength and quality displayed in World Cups.
"We didn't make any mistakes. Botafogo was better, they deserved to win. I don't want to make excuses. Our team wasn't playing at their best. I'm not talking about the refereeing. But today, not even Hungary, the Netherlands from the '74 carousel, Germany, or Italy could have beaten Botafogo," said Joel.
Among the players, the sentiment was the same. Captain Fábio Luciano avoided discussing the refereeing, praising his rival's performance.
"I'm not going to make excuses. Botafogo knew how to take advantage of their chances. We had a difficult week, which was reflected in this match. The goals we conceded weren't due to our mistakes, nor to Botafogo's merit. They just happened, and the defeat is in the past. We now have to focus on preparing for the next match, just as we didn't prepare for today," stated Fábio Luciano with lucidity and objectivity.
Not everyone, however, shared the captain's cool analysis. Still hot-headed, Juan, upon leaving the field, accused the referee of having influenced the result. Juan didn't mince his words.
"I said he won the game. The free kicks he took near our box were a joke. He didn't whistle for us. The penalty was ridiculous. Toró won with his head and body," Juan said.
Since Flamengo doesn't play again until the 23rd, against Coronel Bolognesi at the Maracanã stadium, in the final round of Group 4 of the Copa Libertadores, Joel Santana will have time to address the issues he's observed in his defense. And it wasn't just physical fatigue.
"Fatigue didn't affect us. Botafogo was better. Now, our team will prepare for the final and the last game of the first phase of the Libertadores. That was our plan in December: to reach the Carioca final and qualify for the next phase of the Libertadores. We don't have to talk; we have to prepare. I think that in the future, whether against Botafogo or Fluminense, our team will be better prepared," summarized Joel, who considered Diego Tardelli's outburst normal, as he complained when he was brought on late, saying he wasn't the savior of the nation. "It's a normal reaction from a player who wants to be a starter."
Virtual catimba to confuse Flamengo in the League
Consubasquet suspends duel with Corrientes by email, violating regulations, and then backtracks. The match will be on Wednesday.
Photo caption: PIVOT ALÍRIO buries the ball in Flamengo's victory over FTC, from Bahia, yesterday morning, in Gávea
Ary Cunha
The traditional Argentine catimba has entered the era of digital inclusion. All it took was one email popping up in Flamengo's basketball director, Arnaldo Szpiro, last Friday for Paulo Chupeta's team's entire schedule for the South American League final to go down the drain. Yesterday morning, still unsure when they would face Regatas/Corrientes in the first match of the best-of-five series that will decide the continental title, Paulo Chupeta's team defeated FTC, from Bahia, 93-71, in Gávea, in the National Basketball Championship, and maintained their lead in the competition. Confirmation only came last night, with the first two away games postponed from Tuesday and Wednesday to Wednesday and Thursday.
Flamengo is waiting for the South American Basketball Confederation (Consubasquet) to send its plane tickets today and is demanding that the itinerary be maintained, with a flight from Rio to Asunción, Paraguay, in the morning, and a stretch of around 300km by bus to the Argentine city.
The email that sparked all the confusion and drew protests from Flamengo and the Brazilian Basketball Confederation (CBB) was sent by Consubasquet director Eduardo Base, Argentine, who is also president of the country's club association. He announced the game's suspension, claiming that Corrientes' American forwards, Robinson and Stanton, had not obtained work visas from the Brazilian Embassy in Buenos Aires. Both had already been ruled out of the semifinal match against Universo/Brasília due to documentation issues.
"If there's a problem with them, Flamengo shouldn't be harmed. We were once without Amiel (Cuban) for a game in Uruguay because his visa didn't arrive. We traveled without him," Szpiro recalled.
Greek says Consubasquet was hasty and made a mistake
The League's regulations support the red-and-black argument. Article 31, which addresses visas and entry requirements, states that "if foreign or national players require a visa or other requirements, they are the responsibility and expense of the club. Consubasquet is not responsible for the administrative procedures."
CBB president Gerasime Bosikis, known as Grego, watched Flamengo's victory yesterday in Gávea and criticized the decision of Consubasquet, of which he is a member of the executive committee.
"There was no reason to suspend the match. The problem isn't political, it's not sporting. It's a consular matter. Consubasquet acted hastily and made a mistake," Grego criticized.
Initially, the red-and-black team's plan was to travel this morning. With the one-day change, Paulo Chupeta scheduled training for this afternoon, to work with the team before tomorrow's departure.
- I felt that our team lost a bit of focus because of this problem in the League - admitted the coach.
For winger Marcelinho, the visa issue was used as a ploy to cover up an old rivalry:
- They're involved in the Argentine playoffs. To avoid burnout, they decided to change the game. But titles are won on the court.
Gymnastics
Jade Barbosa wins silver on floor exercise
Daiane dos Santos is fourth in the World Cup stage in Germany
COTTBUS, Germany. Jade Barbosa, from Rio de Janeiro, once again confirmed her status as the leading star of the Brazilian women's gymnastics team today, winning the silver medal in the floor exercise final yesterday at the Cottbus World Cup. With 14.625 points, she was only surpassed by the European champion on the apparatus, Romania's Sandra Izbasa, with 15.300. The bronze went to China's Sha Xiao, with 14.500.
Returning to competition after a six-month layoff due to right knee surgery in October, Daiane dos Santos also put in a strong performance, nearly reaching the podium. To the applause of the German crowd, she showed she was in good shape, and despite making mistakes during her acrobatic landings, which cost her valuable points, the Rio Grande do Sul native finished fourth with a score of 14.350.
Next stage will be in Maribor, Slovenia
Demonstrating composure and always with a smile on her face, Jade made very few mistakes during her performance. Unlike in the qualifying rounds, when she lost a tenth of her score for leaving the stage, she performed every element of her routine, accompanied by the sound of berimbaus. As a result, the Rio native managed to improve on the 14.350 score she received in the qualifying round.
On Saturday, Jade had already won silver on vault, finishing behind Uzbek-born German Oksana Chusovitina. And on uneven bars, an event that isn't her specialty, she finished sixth.
For the Brazilian, who is still recovering from a right wrist injury, the result couldn't have been better. After all, her goal in Cottbus, she said before the competition began, was to evaluate her performance against her main rivals.
Also competing in the stage were Ana Cláudia Silva, Luiz Augusto dos Anjos, who replaced Diego Hypólito, who was recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and Victor Rosa. None of the three qualified for the final of their events.
This stage, which brought together 52 athletes from 22 countries, adds points for the final of the competition, in December, which will feature the best-placed athletes in the rankings for each apparatus.
The next stage of the World Cup will be in Maribor, Slovenia, from April 25 to 27.
SPORTS JOURNAL
Life goes on in Gávea
File/JS
Defender Fábio Luciano did not appear downhearted after Sunday's defeat
After Sunday's 3-0 loss to Botafogo in the Taça Rio semifinal, Flamengo is already thinking about the future. Before their next match, a Copa Libertadores match against Peru's Coronel Bolognesi, they will have 10 days of downtime.
Defender Fábio Luciano highlighted this 'free' time, in which the red-black team will have plenty of time to train.
"It's going to be a good week. We're going to improve our physical condition and correct some mistakes we made in this Sunday's game. We're going to work normally. We're qualified for the Libertadores and the Campeonato Carioca. Now it's time to keep working," said the Flamengo defender.
Flamengo will play on April 23rd against Coronel Bolognesi and, shortly after, will play the first match of the State Championship final.
Defenders disagree on blame
Ibson, surrounded by opponents, recognized that Flamengo did not perform well
After yesterday's loss, some Flamengo players were angered by a poorly called offside call on Juan. After the match ended, the player went after referee Péricles Bassols and blamed him for the setback.
"I congratulated him because he won the game. The silly foul this referee called near our box was a joke. He didn't whistle for Flamengo. The penalty was ridiculous; Toró won it with his head and body. His concentration didn't do him any good," Juan lamented as he left the field.
Now with a cool head, Captain Fábio Luciano found another culprit: the effort made in Cusco, playing at 3.360 m above sea level.
"We had one priority this week: securing our place in the next round of the Copa Libertadores in advance, and we achieved that. Of course, we were upset about the loss; I'll go home sad. Now we'll have time to work and watch TV next Sunday," the defender said, reiterating that the team knew when to lose: "The same thing happened in the game against Nacional de Montevideo. If we'd lost by that score later on, it would have been difficult to recover. Now we'll prepare for the finals. We lost when we could have," he warned.
This time, Ronaldo wasn't lucky.
Not even the presence of a illustrious fan prevented the defeat. A self-proclaimed Flamengo fan, striker Ronaldo, Flamengo's dream come true, went to Maracanã to support his beloved team yesterday against Botafogo, as promised. However, unlike when Flamengo won the Rio de Janeiro championship three times in 1999, 2000, and 2001, when the "Phenomenon" was also present but his team won, this time, the player wasn't a lucky player and saw his Flamengo team eliminated by Botafogo.
Ronaldo arrived at the stadium wearing a "I Love Flamengo" shirt and watched the match from a box seat alongside his girlfriend Bia, who was also wearing a Flamengo shirt. The player, who is recovering from left knee surgery, also received visits from former player Djalminha, sports secretary Eduardo Paes, and president Márcio Braga, who reiterated Flamengo's interest in housing Ronaldo during his recovery, which will be supervised by club doctor José Luiz Runco.
Difficult dream\ During halftime, Ronaldo exchanged the shirt he had arrived at the stadium with for a sleeveless Flamengo shirt, also with his preferred number, 9. As he was leaving box 21 at the Maracanã, he briefly spoke to the press about the possibility of being signed by the team from Gávea.\
"My dream is to play for Flamengo. But it's a difficult dream," he admitted.
The altitude is to blame for the defeat
Joel regrets the time lost on the return trip and congratulates Botafogo
Pedro Chiaverini and Tiago Bokel
Ursula Nery/JS
Fábio Luciano wins the play in the Botafogo box, but to no avail. In the locker room, the team captain makes light of the loss to Botafogo.
Every sacrifice has a price. And Flamengo, after their spectacular 3-0 victory over Cienciano in Cusco, felt the force of this phrase firsthand. The loss in the Taça Rio semifinal to Botafogo cost Joel Santana's team elimination in the second round of the Campeonato Carioca. Now it's time to lift their heads for the two final matches of the competition.
"The team really felt it today, but that's no excuse. Nobody would have won this match against Botafogo, not even the Netherlands in 1974. The biggest strain wasn't the trip to Peru, but the time we had to wait for the flight from São Paulo to Rio. We were supposed to have arrived in the early evening, but we only arrived in the early hours," lamented Joel.
The coach also said he had no preference for the final opponent, whether it was Botafogo or Fluminense. But the most notable incident during the match occurred when Flamengo was already trailing 3-0 and Joel called on striker Diego Tardelli to come on. The irritated striker responded, "Now? I'm not a savior!" Joel said he didn't hear the comments at the time. In the locker room, he tried to downplay the incident.
"Maybe he used the comma incorrectly. Tardelli came on at a difficult time, but he bothered the opponent, so much so that Cuca sent Leandro Guerreiro on to mark him. I don't believe he made any kind of insinuation," the coach explained. During halftime, Joel had to take off striker Souza, who had a stomach problem. He also made a point of congratulating Botafogo on their superiority, and refusing to point fingers for the defeat.
Supporter Ibson left the pitch mocking the black and white team's happiness and lamenting the team's poor second half. "We didn't come back from the break well. We lost, but we're in the championship final. Now I want to see if Botafogo will cry in the locker room," Ibson teased.
Flamengo will now have time to recover from the strain. The team won't play again until the 23rd, when it faces Coronel Bolognesi in the final round of the Libertadores group stage. Joel will also consider whether it's worth taking the team out of Rio to prepare.
In the preliminary, red-black party
Flamengo beats Resende 1-0 and faces Macaé in the Taça Rio final
Ursula Nery/JS
Paulo Sérgio, top scorer in the Junior Championship, celebrates the winning goal against Resende
It was a red-and-black preliminary. Flamengo's 1-0 victory over Resende in the semifinals of the Campeonato Carioca de Juniores (Rio de Janeiro Junior Championship) reaffirmed the prominence of two players: Paulo Sérgio, who became the competition's top scorer with yesterday's goal, and Erik Flores, considered the star of coach Adílio's squad. Flamengo remains in contention for its fourth title in the category.
While Paulo Sérgio hasn't yet established himself as a top striker among the seniors, he remains the team's standout performer among the juniors. Yesterday's goal, his 16th of the season, came early in the second half. He now has three more goals than Diego of Cabofriense, Flamengo's opponent in the Taça Rio final.
The winning goal started with a pass from Erick Flores to Pedro Beda who passed the ball to Leozinho who crossed perfectly for Paulo Sérgio to finish with a header.
The goal, however, didn't intimidate Resende, who continued to play the ball intelligently. Flamengo's retreat forced the Vale do Paraíba team, which, however, ran into a well-organized defense, to give up the match.
At the end of the match, with qualification guaranteed, Pedro Beda, who participated in the play that led to the only goal, was very satisfied with his performance:
"We're happy with our qualification for the final and our performance today. Now we have to think about Macaé, a good team that knows how to play the ball well," he said, before going to the stands and cheering on the professional squad: "Now I'm going to sit here and cheer on my Mengão," Pedro concluded.
Jade wins another silver in Germany
Brazilian Jade Barbosa took home another silver medal yesterday at the Cottbus (GER) stage of the artistic gymnastics World Cup, with a mark of 14.625. The experienced Daiane dos Santos returned to international competitions and almost secured a place on the podium, finishing fourth in the event.
The first gymnast to show her choreography on the stage in Cottbus, Jade Barbosa nailed all the acrobatics, delivering an almost perfect performance.
Consistency\ Without serious errors, as occurred in the qualifying phase, when she lost 1 tenth of her score when leaving the stage area, Jade did not have any considerable discount in her score, however, she did not achieve a better score than the Romanian Sandra Izbasa, who won the gold medal with a score of 15.300.\
Last Saturday, the Brazilian had already placed second in the vault, behind only gymnast Oksana Chusovitina. In the uneven bars, which isn't her specialty, she only managed sixth place.
After a period of recovery from an injury to her right ankle, veteran Daiane dos Santos, who was the sixth gymnast to perform, gave a beautiful demonstration to the sound of "Isto aqui, o que é?", scoring 14.350.
She is training hard to try to win a medal at the Beijing Olympics in August, which would be a first for Brazil.
Mengão scores the Bahians
The team beats FTC EAD 93-71 and remains in the lead of the National Basketball Championship
Wallace Teixeira/JS
Point guard Hélio tries to overcome the opponent's marking in yesterday's victory at the Gávea gym
Flamengo defeated FTC EAD 93-71 yesterday at the Hélio Maurício Gymnasium in Gávea, in the National Basketball Championship. The visiting team's top scorer was Roberto, with 22 points, one more than Marcelinho Machado, the Rubro-Negro's leading scorer. The Rio de Janeiro team earned its eighteenth victory in the championship, having lost only one.
Winger Marcelinho was pleased with the team's performance, as they took the Bahian underdog seriously:
"Their team came out playing hard, looking for a win, and that made things a bit tough for Flamengo. Our team is a bit worn out physically and emotionally from the string of tough matches in the South American League. Even so, we achieved another important result toward our goal of finishing first in the qualifying phase. Congratulations to the group on this achievement."
Confidence\ Without any absences, the red-and-black team confirmed its favoritism and demonstrated superiority in every quarter, despite the opponent's determination. Hélio, Marcelinho, and Fred were the standouts in the red-and-black victory, totaling 42 points together.\
Point guard Marcelinho, who is enjoying a good run of form in his career, not only finished as the top scorer but also had a good assist tally, with six. For the visitors, center Roberto had a strong performance, scoring 22 points and grabbing six rebounds.
The Gávea team's greatest achievement was its rebounding. Alírio managed eleven rebounds.
Upcoming matches\ The team travels tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. to Argentina, where they face Regatas Corrientes in the final of the South American Championship, a title the Rio de Janeiro team has never won. The red-and-black board refused to accept their opponent's arguments, which are that they want time to legalize their foreign players. They will demand that the match be played on Wednesday in Corrientes, Argentina.\
Next Sunday, Flamengo will play the National Championship again, in the match against Brasília, third place in the competition.
Flamengo: Marcelinho (21), Hélio (10), Duda (8), Coloneze (4) and Alírio (12). Entered: Igor, Fernando (11), Fred (11), Maicon (1), Marcellus (3) and Amiel (12).\ Coach: Paulo Chupeta\
FTC EAD: Henrique (14), Perez (2), Roberto (22), Gilson (13) and Newsome (12). Entered: Velasco (2), Darlan (3) and Jefferson (3).\ Coach: Daniel Waffty.\
HATES
Fábio Luciano: 'Botafogo deserved the result'
Rio - Botafogo played better, and the 3-0 victory was indisputable. This seems to be the consensus, even among Flamengo fans. Flamengo captain Fábio Luciano stated that Botafogo deservedly won, emphasizing that it was a fair game after two tumultuous derbies between the teams. The defender also emphasized that the Flamengo squad's visible fatigue is no excuse for the defeat.
"We prioritized one game this week and paid a price for it, but it's no excuse. Botafogo deserved the result. We knew that to win the game, everything would have to go perfectly - and that's not what happened. Botafogo played cleanly, with the ball, and deserved to win. Fatigue got in the way, but it's no excuse," said the captain, who also celebrated the fact that Flamengo now has a week of work before their next match, on the 23rd, against Coronel Bolognesi, in the Libertadores.
However, Fábio Luciano disagreed with another aspect of the game, which also seemed unanimous: a mistake by the Flamengo defense in the first goal, scored by Wellington Paulista. In a set piece from a corner kick, Zé Carlos deflected the ball at the near post, and Wellington, alone at the far post, had no choice but to head it home.
"The goal wasn't due to the striker's merit or the defense's failure. Botafogo practiced the play and Flamengo practiced to stop it, but they couldn't," the captain replied.
Juan is the only one crying at Fla
Martha Esteves
Rio - The order was given inside Flamengo's locker room after the game: crying over spilled milk or downplaying Botafogo's resounding victory was prohibited. Vice-president of football, Kleber Leite, even opened the press conferences by congratulating his players on their "heroic effort" and Botafogo on the victory. But defender Juan, still hot-headed, didn't even want to maintain his composure: he blamed the refereeing of Péricles Bassols for the Flamengo defeat.
"I said he won the game. The free kick the referee called near our box was a joke. For us, he didn't even call anything in our favor. The penalty was ridiculous; Toró won it with his head and body. His concentration didn't do him any good," complained the full-back.
In the red-and-black locker room, everyone rehearsed their responses. There was no blaming fatigue from the grueling trip to Cuzco, nor was there any complaining about the refereeing. That's why both Kleber Leite and coach Joel Santana used the same phrase to justify the defeat: "Not even the 1954 Hungarian national team or the 1974 Dutch carousel could have beaten Botafogo yesterday."
"I'm not going to sit here complaining about anything, not even whether there was a penalty or not, so that no one can say I'm crying later. Therefore, I don't want to make excuses for the loss. Botafogo was better not only physically, but also in the way they played the game," commented Joel.
Always concerned with maintaining fair play, the coach also did not want to stir up controversy over the statement made by striker Diego Tardelli, who came on in the 30th minute, replacing Renato Augusto, when the score was already 3-0. Tardelli said he was not a 'savior of the nation' to help the team turn the game around.
"Maybe he didn't mean to imply anything. Or maybe he didn't put the comma in the right place. He really entered a very difficult moment," Joel explains.
The only thing the coach can celebrate is the nine days to train the team, which only returns to the field on the 23rd, for the Libertadores, at Maracanã, against Coronel Bolognesi.
"We're going to improve our physical performance and correct some of the team's positioning errors. The important thing is to stay calm."
Ronaldo at the Maraca: a phenomenal disappointment
Mauro Leão
Rio - A greater declaration of love is impossible. Ronaldo Fenômeno fully embraced his Flamengo heart and donned the club's colors yesterday at the Maracanã to cheer for Flamengo. But despite all his support, he didn't bring Mengão any luck. The team ended up suffering a 3-0 defeat to Botafogo and was eliminated from the Taça Rio final. "It's no problem. Flamengo has already qualified for the state final," commented the Fenômeno alongside his father, Nélio.
Father and son together at the Maracanã stadium brought Ronaldo back to his childhood. "Remember, Dad? When you used to bring me to Flamengo games? Everything's different now," recalled the player, who took his son, Ronald, and his girlfriend, Bia, to the derby against Botafogo.
At halftime, even with the partial defeat, the Phenomenon remained undaunted. "We're going to turn it around. Our fans are pushing the team to victory," the rock sang to his girlfriend. Ronaldo arrived at Maracanã wearing a white Mengão jersey with the phrase "I love Flamengo" and the number 12 on the back.
Leaving the stadium, stunned by Botafogo's performance, he wore a red and black tank top, a gift from former swimmer Patríca Amorim. Alongside Márcio Braga, Ronaldo reaffirmed his dream of playing for Flamengo. Surrounded by security guards, he even had to listen to a Flamengo fan mock him: "Stay home, jinx."
Zico back to the temple
Danielle Rocha
Rio - Zico arrived by truck at Maracanã. He stood there, near gate 18, the center of attention. It's hard to count how many photos were taken by people of all ages who had never had the chance to pose alongside their real-life idol, but who were thrilled to have a photo of the Styrofoam and paper Zico.
The lenses only momentarily shifted direction when a former teammate from Galinho got out of the taxi and approached the 4-meter statue. It was Raul Plassmann, Flamengo's goalkeeper, World Cup winner in '81, who was startled to see Zico on the sidewalk. His reaction was similar to that of the fans, who barely let him walk.
"I live in Curitiba and didn't know about the statue or the request. The tribute is more than fitting. The Maracanã, if it were a living being, would want Zico to be there. It's a monument to the monument. I signed it," said Raul.
He and over 20 fans have joined forces so far. The goal is to reach 50 signatures to convince Suderj president Eduardo Paes to erect a statue of the idol, Maracanã's all-time top scorer, at the stadium. But that won't even be necessary. According to him, the wish should come true this year.
"He's respected by all the fans. It will be a pleasure to have Zico at Maracanã," said Eduardo Paes.
Forty minutes before kickoff, it was time to enter the stadium. Zico was carried in the arms of six men to the blue seats. The walk there became a sort of procession, but with a hint of anxiety: at the end of the access ramp, they would have to pass below the Botafogo fans. Glasses flew toward the statue, but none managed to hit the Galinho. He appeared in the former general section, provoking boos from one side and euphoria from the other. To the sound of "Zico is our king," he was revered like a god by the fans.
“We will welcome him at the airport with the statue,” said Evandro Bocão, one of the protest organizers.
Joel: 'The team felt tired, but it's no excuse'
Rio - Coach Joel Santana calmly faced the 3-0 defeat to Botafogo this Sunday. According to the coach, fatigue from the midweek trip to the altitude of Cuzco was a hindrance, but, he said, it's no excuse. Joel preferred to emphasize that, despite everything, Flamengo achieved both of its goals at this point: reaching the final of the Carioca and qualifying for the Copa Libertadores.
"The team struggled a bit during the game; you could see that Flamengo wasn't playing like they used to. There was some stress at the airport when we arrived in São Paulo: we were supposed to arrive in Rio at 18 p.m., but we only arrived at 1 a.m. But we're not going to use that as an excuse. Someone might take it differently, say I'm crying and complaining. The opponent deserved it," he declared at the post-match press conference.
When asked if he preferred Fluminense or Botafogo in the Carioca final, Joel preferred to emphasize that Fla is calm, having already reached the goals projected for the period:
"We don't choose our opponents; here at Flamengo, we don't complain about anything. We just have to consolidate a situation: we've already achieved the objectives set in December, which were to qualify for the Libertadores and reach the Carioca final. That's all we wanted," he celebrated.
Keeping an eye on the visible fatigue shown by the red-black players in the match against Botafogo, Joel revealed that he will speak with the coaching staff to find out whether he should rest anyone for the next game, on the 23rd, against Coronel Bolognesi, in order to avoid problems for the Carioca final, the following weekend.
"We'll meet tomorrow with Ronaldo (Torres, physical trainer) and Runco (Fla's doctor) to see what's best for the players. We're coming off a very tough blow. I have to listen to the trainers and doctors, who are much more capable people than I am to make this decision. As for the technical and tactical aspects, we have no problems," he concluded.
Brawl closes station
Flamengo and Botafogo fans attack each other with stones, shots and bombs at Engenho Novo
Rio - Armed with pistols, bombs, and rocks retrieved from the railroad tracks, members of Flamengo and Botafogo fan groups clashed in a battle that took place on 24 de Maio and Arquias Cordeiro streets in Engenho Novo yesterday afternoon. The violent confrontation, which began around 15 p.m., closed the station. According to SuperVia, boarding was suspended for 20 minutes.
According to residents, the fight began after Botafogo fans tried to board a train packed with Flamengo fans also heading to Maracanã. In the confusion, gunshots were heard, one of which hit the door of a closed store.
At least four drivers passing through Rua 24 de Maio had their windows smashed. Buses were also targeted by the fans' savagery. The street was covered in rocks. Several businesses were forced to close their doors.
On the trains, passengers closed the windows and lay down on the floor. "I heard one of the Flamengo fans being warned over the radio that a group of Botafogo fans was heading to Engenho Novo station. At that moment, he gave orders and began urging his colleagues to prepare for war," said 30-year-old design student Antônio Carlos Dias, who was on one of the trains.
"I was so terrified by the violence that I decided not to go to the game. I preferred to go home and watch it on TV," lamented retired police officer José Augusto da Silva Carneiro. The situation was only brought under control after officers from the 3rd Military Police Battalion (Méier) arrived. To contain the fans' fury, the officers had to use stun grenades and pepper spray. Despite the violence, there are no reports of injuries.
After the game, another fight broke out outside Maracanã stadium, in a bar on the corner of Luiz Gama and General Canabarro streets. According to witnesses, a man fired five shots into the air.
On March 23, two fans were injured and 26 others were arrested during a fight between Vasco and Fluminense supporters. The confrontation, which began in Catete and spread to Laranjeiras, involved approximately 300 people.
Police seize explosives
An anonymous tip led officers from the 7th Military Police Battalion (São Gonçalo) to seize bombs and other homemade explosives intended for use in a clash between Flamengo and Botafogo fans yesterday afternoon. Members of a Flamengo fan club were approached in front of an ATM on Rua Alfredo Backer in Alcântara, São Gonçalo. The group fled as soon as police arrived, abandoning four Molotov cocktails, two mortars, and 42 Malvinas tied to rocks at the scene.
The explosives were labeled "TJF" and "Jovem Fla." According to Robson Rodrigo, deputy chief of the 74th Precinct, the fans likely planned to use the bombs around the Maracanã stadium, at the exit of the match between the two teams. The material was sent to the police station.
SPORTS GAZETTE
Ronaldo admits: moving to Flamengo is difficult
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Ronaldo's desire to return to the pitch wearing a Flamengo jersey is unlikely to come true, according to the player himself. This Sunday, the "Phenomenon" watched the Rio Cup semifinal between his favorite team and Botafogo at the Maracanã and declared that a potential transfer to the Rubro-Negro will be complicated. "I dream of playing for Flamengo, but this dream is difficult," the Milan forward admitted, briefly speaking to the press after leaving the box where he was watching the derby. The player is in Rio de Janeiro recovering from a serious left knee injury, which is expected to sideline him for about nine months.
Ronaldo left the Maracanã stadium ten minutes from the end of the match and watched his team lose 3-0 and be eliminated from the Taça Rio by Botafogo. In an interview with the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport last Tuesday, the star revealed his desire to play for Flamengo once he completes his recovery from his injury.
Botafogo fans celebrate unity. Rubro-Negro fans criticize refereeing.\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - The Rio Cup title won't be decided until next weekend, but the Botafogo players' celebrations this Sunday were worthy of a champion team. Emotional midfielder Túlio showed relief at the 3-0 victory, a result that helped somewhat erase the trauma of the Guanabara Cup final defeat to Flamengo. "Given everything that happened in the Guanabara Cup, the least that could have happened was for the team to strengthen. And that's what happened. It doesn't mean we'll win it all, but we'll definitely give it a much harder time in the upcoming games," the midfielder stated.
While the Botafogo fans were celebrating, some Flamengo players were irritated with referee Péricles Bassols. Left-back Juan even argued with the referee after the match ended.
"I went there to tell him he won the game. He called everything for Botafogo and didn't call anything for us. Concentration was good for him," said Juan, mocking the fact that the semifinal referee had been concentrating since Thursday, as ordered by the Rio de Janeiro Refereeing Commission.
Botafogo eliminates Flamengo and is in the final of the Rio Cup\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Botafogo will face Fluminense in the Taça Rio final. This Sunday, the Alvinegro gave Flamengo no chance in the semifinals, defeating their opponents 3-0 at the Maracanã. With goals from Wellington Paulista, Alessandro, and Lucio Flavio, the Glorioso reached the final of the second round of the Campeonato Carioca. The Guanabara Cup champion, the Rubro-Negro, now awaits the winner of the duel between Botafogo and Fluminense on the 20th, to find out who will decide the state title. Before the ball rolled, referee Péricles Bassols—as Gutemberg de Paula Fonseca had done in the other Taça Rio semifinal—gathered the players from both teams to warn that he would not tolerate provocative celebrations in the opposing fans.
With the match underway, the first dangerous move was created by the Carioca's top scorer, Wellington Paulista. Just two minutes in, the Botafogo forward received a cross from Alessandro and headed the ball, which Bruno saved well. Flamengo also responded with headers in the tenth minute, when Kléberson headed in a ball passed by Juan, and Diguinho saved the Alvinegro on the line.
The game remained evenly matched, with both teams showing great respect for each other and waiting for their opponents to make a mistake. In one such attempt, in the 19th minute, Botafogo's Ibson lost the ball to Jorge Henrique at the edge of the box, but the Botafogo player failed to capitalize and fired a weak shot straight at goalkeeper Bruno.
A little more insistent, Botafogo opened the scoring in the 39th minute. After a corner kick taken by Lucio Flavio, Zé Carlos deflected it to Wellington Paulista, who appeared unmarked at the far post to score his fourteenth goal in the Campeonato Carioca.
Before half-time, goalkeeper Castillo still had to leave the area to, with his feet, prevent Souza from tying the match for Flamengo.
Flamengo returned for the second half with Marcinho replacing Souza, who had been unwell in the first half and asked to be substituted. Botafogo, however, despite having the lead, refused to relinquish their attack. Two minutes in, Alessandro received the ball unmarked in the box, but his shot was wide and missed a good chance.
Wellington Paulista's shot was more dangerous in the tenth minute, but Bruno was there to palm it away and prevent the second goal for the black and whites. Botafogo goalkeeper Castillo also had his work cut out in the 12th minute, after a free kick taken hard by Cristian.
But it was truly Botafogo's afternoon at Maracanã. In the 15th minute, Alessandro was released into the box and this time showed better accuracy to score the Glorioso's second goal in the derby.
In the 25th minute, the referee awarded a penalty to Botafogo when Jorge Henrique collided with Toró in the box. Lucio Flavio, who took the penalty, gave goalkeeper Bruno no chance. Botafogo 3-0, and the black and whites celebrated, despite being outnumbered at the Maracanã.
With the game decided, coach Cuca still took advantage of the final minutes to bring on midfielder Leandro Guerreiro, who hadn't played since the end of last year when he was injured. The player helped the team pass the ball around while waiting for the final whistle, which crowned Botafogo's qualification.
PELENET
Botafogo crushes Flamengo and faces Flu in the Rio Cup final
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Botafogo is in the final of the Rio Cup, the second round of the State Championship. Giving their opponents no chance, the Alvinegro defeated Flamengo 3-0, with goals from Wellington Paulista, Alessandro, and Lúcio Flávio, this Sunday at Maracanã.
BOTAFOGO WINS AND GOES TO THE DECISION
Now, Botafogo faces Fluminense, who beat Vasco in the other semifinal, in the Taça Rio final, next Sunday, the 20th, at 16 pm, at Maracanã.
The winner of this match will face Flamengo, who won the Taça Guanabara title, in the first round of the competition, in the State final, on April 27th and May 4th.
However, before the final, Botafogo takes on Portuguesa, this Wednesday, at 21:50 pm, at Canindé, for the round of 23 of the Copa do Brasil. Flamengo, on the other hand, only takes the field on the XNUMXrd, when they face Coronel Bolognesi-PER, at Maracanã, for the Libertadores.
Still tired from the trip to Cusco, Flamengo started the match at a slow pace.
Botafogo, in turn, took the initiative in the classic and was better in the initial stage.
However, despite their superiority, Alvinegro barely bothered goalkeeper Bruno.
But, when everyone expected a 0-0 draw in the first 45 minutes, Botafogo, in the 39th minute, through Wellington Paulista, opened the scoring.
"The team didn't get very close to scoring in the first half. I'm tired and I felt like throwing up, but I'm not going to ask coach Joel Santana to substitute me," revealed striker Souza.
Despite the requests, the player ended up being replaced by Marcinho. However, this didn't change the outlook of the derby. Botafogo continued to play much better on the field.
It didn't take long and, in the 15th minute, taking advantage of a mistake by Flamengo's defense, Alessandro scored the second goal for Alvinegro and practically put Botafogo in the final.
But Botafogo wanted more. In the 25th minute, the referee saw a penalty from Toró on Jorge Henrique. Two minutes later, Lúcio Flávio took the penalty, scoring the third, and closing out the derby with a flourish.
At Maracanã, Ronaldo admits that it is difficult to play for Flamengo
From international agencies\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Ronaldo has long desired to play for Flamengo. However, this Sunday at the Maracanã, after watching the Red-Blacks' 3-0 loss to Botafogo in the semifinals of the Taça Rio, the second round of the State Championship, the "Phenomenon" admitted that this possibility is still difficult.
Striker Ronaldo admits it's difficult to play for Flamengo
"I dream of playing for Flamengo, but this dream is difficult," said the Milan striker, who is in Rio de Janeiro recovering from a serious left knee injury. The star is expected to be out of action for about nine months.
Also this Sunday, in an interview with UOL Esporte, Flamengo president Márcio Braga revealed a meeting with Ronaldo's agent, Fabiano Farah, next Wednesday.
"We're actually going to have lunch. But it will just be a social gathering. There's nothing to sign Ronaldo, especially since he won't play again until next year. Besides, he has a contract with Milan," the director emphasized, also talking about the meeting with the player at Maracanã.
"Everything went well, without the slightest problem. But we just went to watch the game," he said.
Last Tuesday, in an interview with the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Ronaldo revealed his desire to play for Flamengo when he is fully recovered.
Joel Santana ignores fatigue and admits Botafogo's superiority
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Coach Joel Santana appeared level-headed in his press conference following Flamengo's 3-0 loss to Botafogo this Sunday at the Maracanã stadium in the semifinals of the Taça Rio, the second round of the State Championship. The Flamengo manager made no excuses and only praised his opponent.
"Botafogo was better physically and in the game. The team really felt the fatigue, but that's no excuse. In the final, we'll be better, and it will be a fair decision. Credit to the opponent, and we'll work hard," he said.
Regarding the refereeing, Joel Santana preferred not to make any kind of comment, especially in relation to Botafogo's third goal, awarded from a penalty kick.
"I don't want to talk about the penalty. You (journalists) are qualified for that. Here we don't complain about anything and we just go out on the field to play football," he said.
Finally, Joel Santana also spoke about Diego Tardelli. The striker, before entering the field (replacing Renato Augusto), said he wasn't the "savior of the nation." At the time, Flamengo was already losing 3-0.
"Perhaps a misplaced comma, word, or accent changes the context of the sentence. I don't see it as any kind of insinuation. Sometimes the player enters an easy moment and sometimes a difficult one. I just have to congratulate everyone on their professional behavior," he concluded.
GLOBOESPORTE
Botafogo beats Fla and will decide the title with Flu
The black and white team doesn't take notice of their rival, who is showing signs of fatigue on the field.
Fred Huber
Botafogo showed greater grit and determination, defeating Flamengo 3-0 this Sunday at the Maracanã in the Taça Rio semifinal. The result qualifies the club for the final against Fluminense, who eliminated Vasco. The match takes place next Sunday, also at the Maracanã. Flamengo, now eliminated, awaits the winner of the second round to decide the 2008 Rio champion. Wellington Paulista, Alessandro, and Lucio Flavio scored Botafogo's goals.
At the start of the match, the intense heat in Rio de Janeiro forced the teams to move at a slow pace. Botafogo had more initiative, while Flamengo waited to press the opposition only from midfield onwards. Two minutes in, Flamengo threatened for the first time. From the right, André Luis crossed into the box, Wellington Paulista rose alone and headed the ball into the goal. Bruno, well-positioned, made a good save. Flamengo relied on counterattacks and, in the eighth minute, almost opened the scoring. Juan ran down the left and passed perfectly to Kléberson, who headed the ball in, but before the ball could go in, Diguinho saved.
Despite Botafogo's dominance, which had the greater possession, Flamengo created another good chance. In the 20th minute, Renato Augusto exchanged passes with Souza and unleashed a powerful shot from the left edge of the box. The ball sailed just wide of goalkeeper Castillo's right post, but he stretched but couldn't reach it. In a well-rehearsed set piece, Flamengo were rewarded with a goal. In the 39th minute, Lucio Flavio took a corner kick, Zé Carlos deflected it at the near post, and the ball fell to Wellington Paulista, unmarked, to open the scoring. 1-0.
Fla shows tiredness, and Bota strolls
Flamengo returned from the locker room with Marcinho replacing Souza, who was feeling unwell. Just as at the start of the match, Botafogo went all out. In the sixth minute, Flamengo's defense struggled, and Wellington Paulista found Alessandro free on the right, inside the box. The full-back fired a cross shot, but missed the target and missed a good chance to extend the lead. With more determination on the field, the black and white team pressed. In the tenth minute, from the edge of the box, Wellington Paulista fired a cross shot, and Bruno stretched to make a great save.
In the 15th minute, the red-and-black defense failed once again, and this time, Alessandro made no mistake. The right-back, facing the goalkeeper, fired a low shot to make it 2-0. The black-and-whites went wild in the Maracanã stands. Dominant on the field, Botafogo extended its lead in the 27th minute. Referee Péricles Bassols Cortez spotted a foul by Toró on Jorge Henrique inside the box. Lucio Flavio fired a powerful penalty into the middle of the goal, making it 3-0 for Botafogo.
Lacking creativity up front, Flamengo's best chances came from set pieces, with Juan and Cristian.
Fábio Luciano: 'Bota deserved it, let's watch TV'
Defender recognizes rival's superiority and awaits opponent in State final
Flamengo captain Fábio Luciano calmly declined criticism of Péricles Bassols Cortez's refereeing after the 3-0 loss to Botafogo this Sunday in the Taça Rio semifinal (watch the video below with the goals from the match). The defender acknowledged the team's superiority and said it was time for the squad to watch TV.
"We prioritized one match this week and paid the price for it. It's no excuse. Botafogo deserved the result. We knew everything would have to go perfectly to win the match, and that wasn't what happened. Now we'll have time to work and watch TV next Sunday to find out who will face us in the final."
Flamengo will only play again on the 23rd, against Coronel Bolognesi, in the last round of Group 4 of the Copa Libertadores, at Maracanã.
Joel: 'Not even Carrossel could beat Bota'
Coach says black and white team had a great performance, but questions the third goal
Marcio Iannacca
Wellington Paulista celebrates his goal in the match between Botafogo and Flamengo
Coach Joel Santana praised Botafogo's performance in the 3-0 victory over Flamengo at the Maracanã in the semifinals of the Taça Rio, the second round of the Campeonato Carioca. He said not even the best in the world could defeat their rival in this Sunday's match.
"The team felt the game. Today (Sunday), neither the Dutch Carrossel nor Hungary in '54 could have beaten Botafogo. I don't want to make excuses, but the trip was exhausting. We only arrived in Rio de Janeiro at 18 a.m. We should have landed at XNUMX p.m.," recalls the Flamengo coach.
For the coach, Botafogo tested a new formula to face Flamengo and got results.
"Botafogo is a good team, they have a coach who knows the team and has been there a long time. We were devastated, and Botafogo was better. I think in the future, whether with Botafogo or Fluminense, our team will be better prepared," said Joel Santana at the press conference after the defeat.
Ronaldo finds it difficult to play for Flamengo
Player arrives at Maracanã wearing the club's shirt and receives a hug from Marcio Braga
Marcio Iannacca
Striker Ronaldo went to Maracanã this Sunday to watch Flamengo and Botafogo play in the semifinals of the Taça Rio, the second round of the Campeonato Carioca. The result wasn't quite what the "Phenomenon" wanted, as his beloved club was eliminated from the tournament, leaving the field with a 3-0 score. Recovering from surgery on his left knee, the Milan striker received a visit from former player Djalminha, sports secretary Eduardo Paes, and the president of the Gávea club, Marcio Braga.
In a brief interview with the press as he left box 21 at the Maracanã stadium, the player stated that he was fine and that he still dreams of playing for Flamengo. However, he finds it difficult to define his future before his recovery.
- My dream is to play for Flamengo, but it's a difficult dream - said the Phenomenon, who left the stadium driving his car.
On the field, the Phenomenon watched his Flamengo team succumb to a spirited Botafogo. In the box, Ronaldo didn't say much, but he was "taunted" by a Botafogo supporter friend.
- Let's turn around - joked the Phenomenon.
However, during the second half, Flamengo failed to live up to Ronaldo's predictions and ended up losing. The player left the stadium with ten minutes remaining. He took off his Flamengo No. 12 jersey and left the Maracanã wearing a Flamengo basketball uniform.
Joel: tiredness is no excuse
Manager and captain say the trip hurt the team, coach disagrees
Marcio Iannacca
Botafogo's Alessandro celebrates his goal watched by Flamengo's Juan
Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, and captain Fábio Luciano rehearsed their speech after the 3-0 loss to Botafogo this Sunday at Maracanã, but they forgot Joel Santana. The result eliminated the red-and-black team from the final of the Taça Rio, the second round of the Campeonato Carioca. For both, the stumble was due to fatigue from the team's marathon trip to Cuzco, Peru, while the coach said it wasn't "fatigue."
"I want to thank the players for their dedication because it's been an exhausting week. There was a reflection in the locker room that we had a historic run in the Libertadores, and in this Sunday's match, as the master Armando Nogueira would say, not even the Hungarian national team of '54 could beat Botafogo. I'm calling on the red-and-black nation for the final because Flamengo is very good at it," said the red-and-black director, before handing the floor to captain Fábio Luciano.
While the manager preferred to congratulate the team for their fight, defender Fábio Luciano stated that he has no excuse for the result. For the captain, the team did everything possible on the field.
"We're not here to make excuses. We have to congratulate Botafogo. We had a tough week, we gave it our all, but it wasn't enough. The fatigue was reflected in the match," the defender said.
While the manager and captain blamed fatigue, coach Joel Santana preferred not to blame anyone for the defeat.
"There was no such thing as fatigue. Botafogo was better and deserved to win. Now, our team will prepare for the finals and the last game of the first stage of the Libertadores. This was our plan in December, and we managed to reach the final and qualify for the next stage of the Libertadores. We don't have to talk, we have to prepare," says the red-and-black coach.
Flamengo overcomes fatigue and beats Salvador
The team confirms its favoritism and remains in the lead of the men's national championship.
Winger Marcelinho leads Flamengo to another victory in the National Championship
Flamengo confirmed its favoritism with a 93-71 victory over Salvador this Sunday, remaining the undisputed leader of the Men's National Championship. With another strong performance from forward Marcelinho, who scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds, the team secured its 17th victory in the competition.
"They came at us, playing hard, but we managed to maintain our rhythm and secured another important victory. We're coming off a tough, exhausting week, with lots of training and South American League matches, and that takes its toll on the team. But it was good, we won, and that helps us continue our goal of finishing first and gaining an advantage in the playoffs," said the winger, who turned 33 last Saturday, via press office.
Flamengo is still waiting for the dates of the 2008 South American League finals to be defined, against Regatas Corrientes (Argentina). For the 2008 National Championship, there are still four games remaining: Uberlândia, Minas, São Bernardo and Brasília.
São Bernardo secures a spot in the playoffs
Also on Sunday, Ulbra/São Bernardo secured the seventh spot in the playoffs by defeating Uberlândia 83-80. The top scorer of the match was Wesley Fluellen, from the Minas Gerais team, with 25 points. For the São Paulo team, the standout was Manteiguinha, with 17 points. In addition to São Bernardo, Flamengo, Minas Gerais, Joinville, Uberlândia, Brasília, and Vitória have already qualified.
"We've secured our spot in the quarterfinals, but we're aware that we haven't yet achieved what we planned. Our goal is to finish in the top four, and we'll fight to climb the table, even though we're aware of the challenges," says São Bernardo coach José Alves Neto.
Joinville also wins in the round
In the evening's match, Joinville defeated Vitória 79-65 in the Santa Catarina city. Olívia led the home team with 19 points. For the other team, Leandro Silva scored 17 points. With this result, Joinville moved closer to securing fourth place in the regular season.
THROW
Ronaldo goes to Maracanã and can train in Gávea
Phenomenon must continue recovery with Flamengo doctor\ LANCEPRESS!\
AC Milan striker Ronaldo was present at the Maracanã stadium this Sunday to watch the derby between Botafogo and Flamengo. The player arrived at the stadium wearing a "I love Flamengo" shirt and donned a club basketball jersey with his name on the back inside the box.
The Phenomenon was accompanied by president Marcio Braga. The director assured that this week he will meet with prosecutor Fabiano Farah to arrange the continuation of the player's recovery at Gávea, where he will undergo treatment on his left knee with doctor José Luiz Runco.
Initially, it was planned that the striker would give a press conference. However, after Ronaldo spoke to a television network and a website, Flamengo's press office announced that the interview was canceled.
The striker left Maracanã in the 35th minute of the second half, when Botafogo was already beating Botafogo 3-0. He quickly spoke about how his recovery from surgery on his left knee is going.
"Everything is going well. I'll keep working and we'll see what happens this week," he said.
Joel downplays Diego Tardelli's statement
Before replacing Renato Augusto, the striker said he was not the savior of the nation\ LANCEPRESS!\
A controversial statement made by Diego Tardelli moments before replacing Renato Augusto was promptly downplayed by coach Joel Santana, after Flamengo's 3-0 defeat to Botafogo.
The reserve striker would come on shortly after the third goal for the black and white team and told reporters, at the time of the substitution, that he was not the savior of the nation.
"It's a normal statement; football is like that. I put a player in as a reference who worried the opponent. So much so that they put Leandro Guerreiro on him. Diego Tardelli came on at a difficult time; football is like that," the coach declared.
Kléber Leite goes to the locker room to thank the athletes for their dedication
Manager is pleased with the red-blacks' disposition, despite the physical exhaustion\ LANCEPRESS!\
Flamengo's vice-president of football, Kléber Leite, went to the red-black locker room, after the 3-0 defeat to Botafogo, to thank his players for their willingness during the match.
The manager was pleased with the entire team's performance, despite the physical strain caused by the game against Cienciano at altitude and the trip to Peru.