The Globe

The classic of five draws

In a lively game, Fla and Botafogo draw 1-1 and leave the field frustrated.

Photo caption: JUAN TOUCHES the exit of goalkeeper Max, who played the role of villain and hero in yesterday's classic: he took a while to come out in the red-black goal and saved a penalty taken by Souza

As in the other four matches this year, Flamengo and Botafogo put on a good show, but didn't emerge victorious. The derby ended in a 1-1 draw last night at Maracanã, a disappointing score for both teams. The black-and-white team missed the chance to steal second place from Cruzeiro. And if Atlético-PR beats Santos today at Vila Belmiro, the red-and-black team will return to the Brazilian relegation zone.

Flamengo started the game with a lot of interest. Running hard and pressing hard, they didn't give up space and kept coming out with speed. In the 16th minute, Cristian took a free kick, Max rebounded, and Leonardo Moura missed the rebound.

Botafogo used the flanks effectively. There, in the 26th minute, Juan crossed into the box, Renato Silva mishit a clearance, and Souza missed a stunning goal from the edge of the six-yard box. In what would have been Botafogo's only real scoring chance, Alessandro shot wide the following minute. But in the 35th minute, Botafogo scored a well-deserved goal: Souza delivered an excellent pass between the defenders, and Juan flicked the ball under Max, who was slow to clear.

Souza misses penalty in the second half

Without Joilson, who was replaced by Adriano Felício after an injury in the first half, and with Reinaldo, Botafogo came back even. Renato Augusto, in the eighth minute, tried a lob and almost extended Flamengo's lead. But in the 13th minute, a collective blunder by the Flamengo defense resulted in Adriano Felício crossing, Túlio heading it into the middle, and Jorge Henrique scoring with a header.

The draw changed the game's trajectory, which favored Botafogo. Flamengo's frantic first half sent them reeling. However, they could have won the match when Renato Silva awarded a penalty to Obina. In the 30th minute, Souza's poor shot was enough, and Max still got ahead. The result: the black-and-white goalkeeper redeemed himself and saved the ball. Substituted shortly after, the striker left the field to boos. From then on, Botafogo was more present in the opposing half, but Bruno saved the red-and-blacks from a worse result.

Yellow cards: Juninho, Ronaldo Angelim, Renato Silva, and Rodrigo Arroz. Paying attendance: 45.445. Revenue: R$728.886,00.

BRUNO: He wasn't at fault for the goal and even made a great save at the end. He was solid in his aerial efforts. 7.

LEONARDO MOURA: He made a beautiful cross that Souza wasted, he made good passes at the beginning but had to retreat to contain Jorge Henrique and disappeared from the game. 5.

FÁBIO LUCIANO: Firm in anticipation and aerial play, he contained Dodô and guided the team. 7.

RONALDO ANGELIM: He grew with the arrival of Fábio Luciano, played seriously and did not compromise. 6.

JUAN: He's enjoying the best moment of his career. For the third consecutive game, he had a standout performance and scored a beautiful goal, this time with a helping hand from Max. 7,5.

RÔMULO: With the team well-organized in the first half, he was outstanding. In the second, he struggled to cover the gaps in midfield. 5,5.

CRISTIAN: Another player who started with an advantage but struggled in the second half. He tried to take free kicks from distance with force but was off-balance. 5,5.

IBSON: He was the team's main playmaker. He won the battles in the middle, had the agility to break free from the marking and lead the team forward with excellent passes. He missed a good scoring chance after Max's rebound and gave away a dangerous ball while trying to dribble as he was playing out. 7,5.

TORO: Tireless in the fight for the ball, he showed the speed and tenacity that the fans demand. He missed two chances, was injured, and the team felt it. 7. He was replaced by OBINA, who created danger without even touching the ball, either by winning the penalty or by attempting a bicycle kick in the box. 5.

RENATO AUGUSTO: He was dribbled past three times during the goal. Visibly out of shape and insecure, he spent much of the game colliding with opponents and falling to the ground to contest plays. 3.

SOUZA: He gave a good pass for the goal, but took the penalty in a ridiculous way. Isolated, he fought with the ball and the defenders, missed a goal, but tried to help in every way and almost scored an own goal with a shin 3,5. He was replaced by RODRIGO ARROZ, who came on to reorganize the defense. 5.

JOEL SANTANA: He won the midfield battle in the first half, but opened up the team too much and allowed Botafogo to react. 5.

REFEREEING\ José Henrique de Carvalho was right in awarding the penalty.\

Suspended for 120 days, Túlio is devastated

Joel acknowledges that Flamengo lost midfield in the second half and doesn't regret the draw

Photo caption: JORGE HENRIQUE kisses the Botafogo crest after scoring his goal

The draw with Flamengo wasn't a good result for Botafogo, but even worse was the news of Túlio's suspension. Tried yesterday for assaulting Leandro (he kicked the striker in the face) in the 2-0 loss to São Paulo, the midfielder received a 120-day suspension. Luciano Almeida, who broke Ecuadorian Reasco's leg in the same match, was suspended for two games.

"I'm going to have to get a new job. After 120 days, they're banning me from football," said Túlio, who received the bad news on the field, shortly after the equalizer.

In both cases, appeals are possible, and Botafogo's board has already stated that it will attempt to reduce Túlio's sentence. Luciano de Almeida will serve a suspension against Grêmio on Sunday in Porto Alegre.

Goalkeeper Max, who failed to save Juan's goal but redeemed himself by saving Souza's penalty, was relieved.

"I try to do my job without worrying about criticism. I'm happy to have been able to help my teammates," said the goalkeeper.

Rubro-negro coach Joel Santana regretted the missed penalty but was satisfied with the team's performance in the derby.

"We had the game in hand. In the second half, I prepared the team to score," he said, justifying the two-forward system, which was scrapped shortly after the missed penalty. "There were ten minutes left, they had Reinaldo and Dodô in the lineup, so we had to reorganize the team," explained Joel, who will be tried again today alongside Souza.

The coach only regretted the lack of a midfielder to replace Toró, which is why he had to change his system.

Flamengo, who face Sport at Maracanã on Saturday, have signed Argentine midfielder Hugo Colace, formerly of Estudiantes.

Sports Journal

Souza misses penalty and leaves the field to boos

Striker Souza started the match against Botafogo this Wednesday at Maracanã very well. He even provided the assist from the top scorer for Juan to score the Rubro-Negro goal. Despite being a goal down, ahead of Max, the striker showed great enthusiasm, and even dropped back to help out when Botafogo had corners.

But it was when it was time to crown the performance that Souza faltered and went from hero to villain in a matter of minutes. He took the penalty very poorly and allowed Max to excel, saving the penalty.

As a result, when he left the field to make way for Rodrigo Arroz, he was booed heavily by the Rubro-negro fans, who turned up in good numbers at the stadium.

“This happens to everyone and the fans’ reaction is normal,” said the player.

Upon arriving at the bench, however, he showed all his anger and kicked the structure of the place.

Marcio Braga will visit English stadiums

President Marcio Braga will travel to London, England, on September 5th. The purpose of his trip is to learn more about stadium management, as Flamengo aims to win the bid for autonomy over the Maracanã.

But he will make a true pilgrimage across the country, as he will talk to a businessman, other executives and visit sports facilities.

During the trip, Marcio will meet with Dean Bonham, owner of the eponymous group hired to provide consulting services to the club. He will also visit Wembley, reopened three months ago for the friendly between Brazil and England, and the O2 Entertainment Complex. The club's director will also meet with executives from ING, the company that facilitated the renovation of the London stadium.

Flamengo's current president, Marcio Braga, admitted that the trip will serve to outline the objectives so that the Gávea club can win the bid to manage the Maracanã.

The bitter taste of a draw

Flamengo sees the result as a defeat. The group regrets the outcome.

Nathan de Lima and Thiago Bokel

Íbson is marked relentlessly by Joilson. The classic had balance as its main characteristic.

The mood in the Flamengo locker room after yesterday's 1-1 draw with Botafogo at Maracanã was one of utter frustration, as not only had striker Souza missed a chance to kill the match in the first half, but he also missed a penalty in the 29th minute of the second half. Obina, the fans' favorite, left the field in a state of dismay and lamented the result.

"We were playing well, we had a great match, but unfortunately we let the victory slip away. That can't happen, derbies are like that, when we miss a chance we are punished," said the striker.

Coach Joel Santana also lamented the draw.

"It was a good game, we had everything we needed to win today, but we missed a penalty, and that's not something that happens in classics. We played better in the first half, but we wasted the chance to win in the second," he said.

The scorer of the goal and best player of the match along with Jorge Henrique, from Botafogo, Juan left the field angry with the refereeing by José Henrique de Carvalho.

"The game was very competitive, both clubs have great teams, but everything the referee could call against Flamengo, he called. That's just how it is, Botafogo always complains in games and that's what happens," said the left-back.

Another Argentine

Flamengo should announce in the next few days the midfielder Hugo Colace, from Estudiantes de La Plata, to join the group, or perhaps take over the team's number 5 shirt.

The board has been searching for a defensive midfielder for a few days now, as young Rômulo is the club's only player in the position. With the recent success of the fans' new favorite, Maxi Biancucci, the directors went to Argentina to look for the new reinforcement.

Colace, just 23 years old, is one of the standout players for Estudiantes de La Plata, last year's Clausura champions. He formed a partnership with Veron, an experienced Argentine international. Colace played for Newell's Old Boys and Argentinos Juniors before joining Estudiantes and has played for his country's U-17 and U-20 national teams.

"He played in Argentina's youth academy, with Tevez and Macherano. He was the team captain and took penalties," said Joel.

STJD — Joel Santana will face a new trial today at the STJD for his actions in the match against Santos. He was acquitted in the first trial. Souza, who initially received a five-game ban for hitting Grêmio's Tcheco, could face a suspension of 120 to 720 days.

O Dia

Fla misses penalty and draws with Botafogo

Rio - The streak of draws, the fifth in a row, continues. Flamengo and Botafogo drew 1-1 in a lively match in which Max saved a penalty from Souza. The result was disappointing for both teams, as Flamengo remains very close to the relegation zone, and Botafogo remains far behind leaders São Paulo.

In the opening minutes, the game was fairly even. But Flamengo soon took the lead, producing the best attacking plays, and far outplaying their rivals in the first half.

In the seventh minute, Juan and Souza threatened down the left flank, but Leandro Guerreiro got there first and took the ball away from the striker. Two minutes later, Juan saw Fábio Luciano enter the box and crossed, heading it to the defender. Max came out and saved.

The black and white defense struggled to mark Souza, who moved around a lot. In the 16th minute, the Botafogo fans were in for a shock: Cristian took a free kick, Max kicked his clothes, and the ball fell to Leonardo Moura, who missed a great chance.

Flamengo missed another excellent opportunity in the 25th minute. Juan's ball, however, reached Souza. After a mistake by Renato Silva, who failed to clear the ball, Souza took a dangerous shot, but the ball sailed over the crossbar.

In a quick run down the pitch in the 30th minute, Léo Moura crossed, but Souza arrived too late. Botafogo responded: Jorge Henrique shot across goal, but Alessandro, who was on the play, missed the chance.

Showing his excellent form, Juan, the team's top scorer with five goals, opened the scoring in the 34th minute. He received a superb pass from Souza and shot toward Max, who was late to the ball.

Flamengo nearly scored early in the second half, thanks to Toró's effort. Soon after, Renato Augusto, who had been inactive in the game, nearly scored a stunning lob.

But in the 13th minute, Botafogo equalized. Adriano Felício dribbled past Renato Augusto several times, crossed into the box, Túlio headed the ball, and the ball came back to Jorge Henrique, who, with a diving header, scored. Shortly after this move, the skittish Jorge Henrique nearly scored another goal.

But in the 29th minute, defender Renato Silva, who had a poor performance, tied Obina up, and the referee awarded a penalty. Souza took the shot, and Max saved it. In the 37th minute, Bruno saved Flamengo by saving a long-range free kick from defender Juninho.

Botafogo pursued victory until the end, but in a disorganized manner, constantly running into goalkeeper Bruno, who saved Flamengo's team in the final minutes of the game.

Sadness and revolt at Flamengo

Rio - No Flamengo fan was happy with the draw with Botafogo. Flamengo, which has 25 points and is in 16th place, could fall back into the relegation zone today if Atlético-PR beats Santos at Vila Belmiro.

But Juan, one of the best on the field, preferred to complain about referee José Henrique Carvalho, who did a good job yesterday. "He gave everything in our box. Botafogo complains and complains, and this happens."

Head down, striker Souza, who could have been the hero of the game, left the field to boos from the fans and was consoled by Joel Santana and the reserve players. "This happens to everyone, and the fans' reaction is normal."

After that, showing nervousness, the striker kicked the bench structure hard.

And Souza has reason to be nervous. Today, he returns to the dock to be tried again by the Superior Court of Sports Justice, along with coach Joel Santana.

Souza was suspended for five games: two for assault off the field and three for his expulsion against Grêmio on July 22nd, after hitting midfielder Tcheco with an elbow. Joel was acquitted of inciting assault (Article 279) in the match against Santos.

The success of Argentine Maxi inspired the directors, who are negotiating the signing of 23-year-old midfielder Hugo Colace from Estudiantes.

Sports Gazette

Joel praises Flamengo's performance despite the draw

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Despite drawing 1-1 with Botafogo, a result that could put Flamengo back in the relegation zone, coach Joel Santana was pleased with his team's performance. He said the team deserved all three points. The coach emphasized that in the other derbies against the Rio de Janeiro club, all of which ended in draws, Flamengo had failed to assert itself. "We have to keep playing like this. In the other five draws, Botafogo felt like they could have killed the game. In this match, Flamengo felt that way," he declared.

Despite this, he stressed that the Rio de Janeiro club shouldn't get overconfident. "Our team showed a lot of grit, and we have to work to keep playing like that. Our team can't think it's the best in the world," he said.

Obina, who came on as a substitute for Toró, agreed with Joel Santana. "We knew it would be tough, but we came here looking for the win. Unfortunately, we didn't get it," he concluded.

Botafogo and Flamengo draw again\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Botafogo and Flamengo drew 1-1 in a match played this Wednesday at Maracanã. It was the fifth time the two teams had faced each other in 2007 without either team achieving victory. For the black-and-white team, the bitter taste remained, having gone 14 matches without a win against their traditional rival. With the draw, Botafogo remained in third place with 38 points, while Flamengo remains in 16th place with 25 points. The result was fair because Flamengo was much better in the first half and could have gained a bigger lead, but the second half was completely dominated by Botafogo. The red-and-black team also missed a penalty in the second half, which Souza kicked straight at goalkeeper Max.

In the next round, Flamengo will host Sport at Maracanã while Botafogo will go to Olímpico to face Grêmio.

The Game - Within the first minute of the match, Flamengo created the first major moment of excitement. Juan sent Toró free on the right but misplaced the pass to Souza, who was alone in the penalty area. Botafogo, forced to substitute Luciano Almeida at kickoff due to a virus, struggled to track the red-and-blacks' moves.

Flamengo continued to dominate the match, playing with dedication in all areas of the pitch. In the 14th minute, Lúcio Flávio dispossessed Ibson in the midfield but shot wide of Bruno's goal. In the 16th minute, the black-and-white fans were in for a big scare. Cristian took a free kick, Max dropped the ball, Fábio Luciano collided with Juninho, and the ball fell to Leonardo Moura, who shot wide.

Flamengo continued to dominate, and Botafogo's players, including Lúcio Flávio and Túlio, couldn't even get a single play right. Furthermore, Max was once again showing signs of insecurity. In the 25th minute, Juan crossed into the box, Renato Silva missed, and Souza, free in the six-yard box, shot over the bar, wasting a great chance.

Despite playing poorly, Botafogo created a great opportunity in the 31st minute when Jorge Henrique twisted Leonardo Moura and crossed. Alessandro appeared behind Juan and shot wide. In the 34th minute, Flamengo scored the first goal. Souza received the ball on the left and passed it to Juan. Goalkeeper Max stayed in his goal, and the full-back tapped it in with skill.

Soon after, coach Cuca replaced Joilson, who was nursing an injury, with Adriano Felício. The change had no effect, and Flamengo continued to dominate the midfield and stymie the Black and Whites' attacks. In the final play of the first half, Adriano Felício took a shot from the edge of the box, but the ball sailed over the goal.

Botafogo returned modified for the second half with the departure of Alessandro for the entry of striker Reinaldo and the movement of Jorge Henrique to the right wing, but it was Flamengo who missed the chance to extend their lead with Renato Augusto who failed to lob Max and threw the ball away.

Despite playing poorly, Botafogo equalized in the 14th minute with a beautiful play by Adriano Felício, who twice dribbled past Renato Augusto and crossed. Dodô laid the ball off, and Jorge Henrique dived to head the ball into the net. Shortly after the play, Adriano Felício felt a muscle problem and was substituted.

The game remained balanced with both teams looking for the goal with great effort, although without great practical results, mainly because of the poor performances of important players such as Lúcio Flávio and Zé Roberto for Botafogo and Ibson and Leonardo Moura for Flamengo.

From the 20th minute onward, Botafogo adopted a more aggressive approach, capitalizing primarily on Jorge Henrique's speed, which consistently outpaced Flamengo's defenders. Buoyed by the equalizer, Botafogo stepped up their game and nearly scored a second goal with Jorge Henrique, who slotted the ball past Bruno.

In the 28th minute, on a quick counterattack, Souza received the ball on the left side of the box and tried to put it into the right corner, but goalkeeper Max saved it. In the 29th minute, on a cross into the box, defender Renato Silva tied Obina up for a clear penalty. Souza took the shot carelessly, and Max saved it, silencing the red-and-black fans who were already preparing to celebrate the tiebreaker.

In the 37th minute, Juninho took a free kick from the edge of the box, Bruno parried it, but Juan got there before Dodô to clear the danger. In the 40th minute, Reinaldo dribbled past Ronaldo Angelim and shot, forcing another good save from Bruno. Botafogo pressed until the end, but the red-and-black defense managed to prevent a comeback.

Joel and Souza will be tried this Thursday\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Flamengo's troubles with the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) aren't over yet. After seeing the acquittal of left-back Juan and the punishment of midfielder Roger last Tuesday for their red cards against Fluminense, the Rubro-Negro will now face the court again this Thursday, when coach Joel Santana and striker Souza will be tried. The coach and the striker have already been tried before the STJD because the court's prosecutors were dissatisfied with the outcome and appealed. Joel, caught on camera urging his players to "beat up" Santos players, was charged with violating Article 279 of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice (CBJD), which prohibits publicly inciting an offense. In the first trial, Joel was acquitted by the Third Disciplinary Committee.

Souza, who was sent off against Grêmio, could be punished for violating Articles 253 (Physical assault against the referee or his assistants, or against any other participant in the sporting event) and 254 (Violent play). The striker served a five-game sentence after the initial trial.

PeléNet

Fla misses penalty and maintains streak of draws with Botafogo

In the fifth derby between Botafogo and Flamengo this year, the draw streak was very close to being broken. However, with numerous missed chances and even a penalty saved, the rivals were held to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night at Maracanã. The result was ultimately detrimental to both teams, who saw their hopes in the Brazilian Championship derailed.

"It was a draw that felt like a draw; we could have won or lost the game. We can't complain about what happened on the field. They played better for about 50 minutes and we played better for 40, a half for each of us," analyzed coach Cuca.

Striker Souza, who missed the penalty in the 31st minute of the second half, left the field feeling guilty for the result. A minute after the penalty was taken, he was replaced by defender Rodrigo Arroz and was met with loud boos.

"I didn't score and I had to put another player in behind. I prepared to score. When it didn't come, I put another defender in. Before the penalty, I had already prepared the change. I didn't play to defend, but they had another fixed center forward," explained coach Joel Santana.

The first half was marked by both teams' determination and speed. Both rivals constantly pushed forward, but failed to give the goalkeepers much trouble. In the 34th minute, Flamengo's two key players in the first half, Souza and Juan, made a good play, and the full-back opened the scoring for the red-and-blacks.

Botafogo returned for the second half looking for an equalizer, while their opponents positioned themselves for counterattacks. Taking the initiative paid off, and in the 13th minute, the black and whites equalized through their star striker, Jorge Henrique. The goal opened up the match again, with both teams pushing forward heavily. The best chance came in the 31st minute, when Max saved a penalty kick from Souza.

"I was happy, I was able to make the save and help my teammates avoid leaving the field defeated," celebrated the goalkeeper.

With the result, Botafogo (3rd) has 38 points, missing the opportunity to reach second place and remain close to the first place (São Paulo). Flamengo is in 16th, with 25 points, and risks falling back into the relegation zone depending on the result of the match between Santos and Atlético-PR, this Thursday.

In the next round, Flamengo continues its streak of matches at Maracanã. This time, their opponent will be Sport, on Saturday at 18:10 PM. On Sunday, Botafogo travels to Porto Alegre, where they face Grêmio at 16 PM at the Olímpico Stadium.

Joel Santana denies taking Souza off for missed penalty

Striker Souza left the field as the villain in the 1-1 draw between Flamengo and Botafogo this Wednesday at Maracanã. In the 31st minute of the second half, the Flamengo player missed a penalty saved by Max and was substituted shortly after, receiving heavy boos. Coach Joel Santana, however, denied any connection between the two incidents.

"I didn't score and I had to put another player in behind. I prepared to score. When it didn't come, I put another defender in. Before the penalty, I had already prepared the change. I didn't play to defend, but they had another fixed center forward," explained the coach, who put defender Rodrigo Arroz in the striker's place.

Despite not crucifying Souza, the coach lamented his player's missed opportunity. "We had the chance to win, but we didn't kill the game with the penalty," he said.

Souza missed a penalty in the second half, but was one of the team's key players in the first half. He had good scoring chances and provided a beautiful pass for Juan, who scored for the red-and-black team. His performance earned him praise from Joel.

"He's a player I know, who's always been a fighter, and a player who's not the top scorer in the Brazilian Championship for nothing. He may not be that good technically, but he's a fighter. He was making a lot of mistakes, but now he's improved. I think he's got his head on straight," said the coach, analyzing the goal:

"It's a touch play on the side of the field that, as the players get to know each other better, starts to happen."

Coach Joel Santana highlights Flamengo's tactical innovation

Coach Joel Santana made a surprise appearance with Flamengo's lineup this Wednesday, in the 1-1 draw with Botafogo at Maracanã. Without midfielder Roger and forward Maxi, the coach played Renato Augusto and Toró almost as wingers.

The team's biggest change was the inclusion of Toró, who hadn't had many opportunities since joining the Gávea club at the beginning of last year. Spreading out wide when Flamengo had possession and closing down the middle during Flamengo's attacks, the two helped Flamengo dominate the first half.

"Renato Augusto came back from an injury and did well for a while and then a little bit more. Toró, who was a bit forgotten, revived our hope, because he's talented. I don't think even he expected me to get this position for him," exclaimed Joel Santana.

However, in the second half, both players failed to perform and were substituted. The changes didn't have the same effect, and Botafogo came out on top, equalizing thanks to a play on Renato Augusto.

"The annoying thing about the game was that the two players who came on very well got tired. I had to make two changes with two players who weren't in the same position," lamented the coach.

Flamengo fans use optimistic speech after draw in the classic

Flamengo took the lead against Botafogo, conceded the equalizer, and even missed a great chance to win the derby when striker Souza missed a penalty. However, the red-and-black team refused to dwell on the result this Wednesday at Maracanã.

"I'm not one to complain much. What remains is the victory we had. We don't have to complain. We have to see that it was a good game. The positive thing is that we played well," said Flamengo coach Joel Santana.

Despite adopting a more optimistic tone, the coach did not forget the penalty suffered by Obina in the 31st minute of the second half, which Souza took, but ended up being saved by goalkeeper Max.

"The game was very good and balanced. We were better in the first half and they were better in the second. But we could have come away with the victory. Unfortunately, we missed the penalty," he declared.

Another player to offer positive comments was striker Obina. He highlighted the difficult nature of the match and made a point of congratulating the Gávea team on their performance on Wednesday.

"It was a close game, where everyone wanted to win, and it's difficult to win a classic. We tried every moment. The team deserves congratulations for their performance, but we need to score more goals to win matches," said the player.

BalloonSport

Fla and Bota draw for the fifth time in 2007

The teams are evenly matched in the derby, drawing 1-1. Souza also misses a penalty.

Marcio Iannacca

Jorge Henrique celebrates the goal scored in this Wednesday's classic against Fla

In the fifth game between Flamengo and Botafogo in 2007, the result was no different from the previous encounters: a draw. In this Wednesday's Brasileirão clash at Maracanã, the 1-1 draw ended up being fair due to the different times played by the two teams. In the first half, Flamengo was the better team and scored their goal. In the second half, Botafogo was superior. Souza even missed a penalty, but in the end, the team from Gávea maintained their record, having not lost in 14 games to their rivals from General Severiano.

With the result, Flamengo reached 25 points in the Brazilian Championship standings. Botafogo moved to 38. In the next round, Flamengo will face Sport on Saturday at Maracanã Stadium. Flamengo faces Grêmio at Olímpico Stadium on Sunday.

Juan shines in the initial stage

On the field, in the mysterious duel between Joel Santana and Cuca, the red-and-black manager was the one who surprised his rival, who expected Paulo Sérgio to start in attack and Renato Augusto in midfield. However, Toró started the match, starting the derby very well and showing determination throughout.

Flamengo started the match better and had several chances to open the scoring. One minute into the match, Renato Augusto found Toró free on the right side of the Botafogo defense. The midfielder miskicked and wasted the chance. In the 16th minute, Fábio Luciano collected the rebound and shot wide of the net.

Souza had two chances, in the 25th and 29th minutes, before Flamengo opened the scoring. The striker himself initiated the move that led to Flamengo's goal. The number 9 provided an excellent pass to Juan. In the 34th minute, the left-back advanced, entered the box, and tapped the ball past goalkeeper Max: 1-0. Botafogo tried hard to equalize, but couldn't find the target.

Souza misses penalty and leaves to boos

Flamengo had two excellent chances to extend their lead. In the first, in the sixth minute, Toró took a shot from outside the box and narrowly missed. A minute later, Renato Augusto tried to lob goalkeeper Max and also missed. From then on, Botafogo stepped up their game and began to threaten the red-and-black team. In the 14th minute, Jorge Henrique took advantage of a defensive error and tied the match.

Just when it looked like Botafogo would score a second goal due to their greater possession, Renato Silva, the only player to overly taunt the opposition this week, brought down Obina in the box. Referee José Henrique de Carvalho awarded a penalty. In the 30th minute, Souza took a weak shot, and Max made a fine save. The next minute, the striker was replaced by Joel Santana and was booed by the red-and-black fans.

After the missed penalty, Botafogo went in search of victory, and Flamengo began to counterattack. However, both teams attacked in a disorganized manner and were prone to poor passing. In the end, the two teams drew for the fifth time in 2007.

Flamengo's car will be displayed in November

The Superliga Formula car will take to the Maracanã pitch on the 11th or 25th

Marcio Iannacca

Flamengo's marketing department will throw a big party at Maracanã to present to its fans the red-and-black car that will represent the club in the Formula Superliga, a new motorsports category that will be contested exclusively by soccer teams, including Milan from Italy, PSV from the Netherlands, and Porto from Portugal. The idea is to show the car at the stadium during the match on the 11th, against Santos, or on the 25th, against Atlético-PR.

The club has not yet chosen the driver who will represent Flamengo in the new category, which will begin in 2008. The club's marketing department wants a Flamengo driver behind the wheel. Gualter Salles, Duda Pamplona, ​​and Popó Bueno are in the running.

"For now, Flamengo hasn't contacted anyone. We've received a few calls with some possibilities, but we haven't considered that yet," says Ricardo Hinrichsen, Flamengo's vice president of marketing.

The driver's name is expected to be chosen on September 5th. According to Ricardo, Formula Superliga executives will be in Brazil for a press conference, and Flamengo fans will be able to learn more about the new competition.

Toró and Renato Augusto receive praise

Coach prefers to talk about the positive aspects of the game instead of lamenting the draw with Botafogo

Marcio Iannacca

Coach Joel Santana chose not to lament Flamengo's dropped points in Wednesday's derby at the Maracanã against Botafogo. The red-and-black team played better for most of the match, but couldn't kill off the match. The coach celebrated the return of key players. (Watch the video of the match below).

"We don't have to complain. We have to look at the good things that happened in the derby. Toró was forgotten, and Renato Augusto didn't feel it. Our team played very well. Our team kept playing with grit, and we have to work to keep playing like that. We can't let things get boring, and our team can't think it's the best in the world," says Joel.

The red-black coach stated that the team needs to maintain the same rhythm in the next games of the Brazilian Championship.

"We have to keep playing the way we've been playing. In the other five draws, Botafogo felt like they could have killed the game. In this match, Flamengo felt that way," the coach recalls.

Joel praises Argentine Colace

Coach says the midfielder has personality and was the captain of the under-20 team

Marcio Iannacca

Hugo Colace is in Flamengo's sights

Coach Joel Santana praised Argentine Hugo Colace, who is negotiating with Flamengo for the remainder of the Brazilian Championship. The coach confirmed that the Rubro-Negro is close to completing the deal.

"He's a player who played in the youth academy alongside Mascherano. He also played with Tevez. They won an under-20 tournament. What we saw from him was pleasing. He's talented, and Argentine players are always very good," analyzes Joel Santana.

Joel Santana went further in praising the likely red-black reinforcement.

"He's a great player, he was the captain of his team and is going through a good run. He showed personality on the national team. On a team with Mascherano and Tevez, a guy taking penalties is amazing. He has to be really good."

Fla waits for Argentine this Thursday

Hugo Colace missed the meeting on Wednesday, but the board is still hopeful of closing the deal.

Negotiations between Flamengo and Hugo Colace are underway. However, the Argentine's disappearance (and that of his agent) on Wednesday delayed progress in the negotiations. The meeting was rescheduled for Thursday afternoon in Rio de Janeiro.

Colace's "scam" has left those involved in the potential transfer apprehensive. According to them, the player's chances of signing with the Red-Blacks are currently 50-XNUMX.

At 23 years old, the Argentine midfielder has his economic rights divided between Newell's Old Boys and Estudiantes de la Plata, the club he currently plays for.

Red-black passport comes out in September

Passionate fans can buy tickets to watch Flamengo games at Maracanã

Marcio Iannacca

Flamengo will launch the "Rubro-Negro Passport" in the second half of September. The project consists of selling match tickets for the team's remaining matches in the Brazilian Championship. The club's marketing department promises new features and giveaways for fans. (Watch the video below with highlights from the classic against Botafogo).

Flamengo's vice president of marketing, Ricardo Hinrichisen, believes the project will be a sales success.

"Everything is set to work. We spoke with Flamengo's football department, and everything is very close to being launched," says the director.

Bruno promises and delivers: closes the goal

The goalkeeper warned at training camp that he won't lose to Botafogo. On the field, he made some great saves.

Eduardo Peixoto

In six games against Botafogo since joining Flamengo, Bruno has five draws and one win. But if this record is favorable, it's largely due to the goalkeeper's own performance in these matches. And Wednesday's 1-1 draw was no different.

After the first half was largely dominated by Rubro-Negro, the goalkeeper made at least three saves in the final stage.

- Botafogo only started playing after 20 minutes of the first half, until then Flamengo was controlling the game - says the goalkeeper.

Interestingly, earlier in the "Classic Blog," Bruno teased and reminded everyone that he won't lose to Alvinegro. A promise, once again, fulfilled.

Villain, Souza leaves the field booed

Player misses penalty and, irritated, gives a peck to the bench structure

Souza had every reason to leave the Maracanã as the hero of Flamengo's victory. But, 30 minutes into the second half, the striker missed a penalty (watch the video), and the derby against Botafogo ended in a draw. Soon after, coach Joel Santana replaced him with Rodrigo Arroz. That was enough for the Flamengo fans to boo him incessantly. Head down, the striker was comforted by the coach and the other substitutes.

- This happens to everyone and the fans' reaction is normal - he says.

However, the supposed calm ended soon afterward. Souza kicked the bench structure hard.

Maracanã becomes the Dragon's stadium

Before the game, Flamengo and Botafogo fans provoke each other with music imported from Porto

Eduardo Peixoto

The Dragão stadium in Porto is thousands of kilometers from Maracanã. But Flamengo and Botafogo fans didn't care. Before the derby began, the provocation with a song imported from Porto was the hit on both sides of the stands.

Botafogo fans chanted the traditional "And no one is silent, this love of ours... and that's why I sing...". But, rehearsed in previous games, the red-and-black response came in a satirical tone: "You don't win anything... I'm Flamengo, world champion and five-time champion."

Despite the gap in favor of Botafogo in the table, the red-black fans turned up in much larger numbers at the stadium.

Maraca on the agenda during the president's trip

Marcio Braga goes to London to learn about stadium management

Marcio Iannacca

Márcio Braga will travel to London

President Marcio Braga will travel to London, England, on September 5th. The purpose of his trip is to learn about stadium management, as Flamengo aims to win the bid for autonomy over the Maracanã.

On the trip, Marcio Braga will meet with Dean Bonham, owner of the group of the same name hired to provide consultancy to the club, and will visit Wembley, reopened three months ago for the friendly between Brazil and England, and the O2 entertainment complex.

In addition, the club's director will meet with executives from ING, the company that facilitated the renovation of the London stadium.

Márcio Braga admitted that the trip will serve to outline objectives so that Flamengo can win the bid to manage the Maracanã.

"We need to have an economic plan that will serve both Maracanã and Gávea. We're going on this trip to get a sense of what we can do. We're interested in having Maracanã and continuing with our Gávea revitalization project," says the director, who is awaiting the bidding process for the Rio stadium at the end of October.

Last Tuesday, Suderj president Eduardo Paes admitted that the Maracanã bid would be for a club the size of Flamengo. He said it would be unlikely for another Rio de Janeiro club to gain autonomy over the stadium, given that Flamengo's fan base is the largest in the country.

Throw

Botafogo and Flamengo draw in an electrifying classic

Teams take turns controlling the game and Max saves Souza's penalty

Toró and Zé Roberto fought a duel in the midfield (Credit: Julio César Guimarães)

Danilo Santos

In the fifth match between Botafogo and Flamengo in 2007, the team drew 1-1 this Wednesday at Maracanã Stadium in a thrilling match. Goals were scored by Juan and Jorge Henrique. Max saved the black-and-whites from defeat by saving a penalty from Souza.

With the result, Botafogo reached 38 points, while Flamengo reached 25, potentially falling back into the relegation zone. Next Sunday, the Alvinegro faces Grêmio at the Olímpico Stadium. Flamengo hosts Sport on Saturday at the Maracanã Stadium.

Before ten minutes had passed, it was clear that Botafogo's defense was completely exposed and that Flamengo would come out swinging. In the very first play, Toró received the ball unmarked inside the box but shot poorly. Souza and Renato Augusto both had good chances, but they got tangled up with only one defender.

The two coaches' gamble on mystery paid off for Flamengo. The team was well-positioned defensively, gave freedom to its two wingers, Juan and Léo Moura, and featured a surprising Toró, a last-minute addition, who performed very well in the first half.

On the black and white side, the Cuca mystery seems to have even affected the players themselves. Confused, they couldn't get their positioning right. The defense had Renato Silva and Juninho, and the defensive midfielders lacked coverage, and they were somewhat lost. On the right, Alessandro was struggling, as was Lucio Flavio in the middle, as was Dodô in attack. The only things left were the runs of Jorge Henrique and Zé Roberto.

The game was good, fast-paced, with Flamengo creating the best chances. In the best of them, Cristian took a free kick, Max kicked it, and Léo Moura missed a clear goal from the rebound. The Flamengo fans complained about a penalty on Fábio Luciano, who was blocked by Jorge Henrique's tackle. Souza had already shot over the bar after Renato Silva had fouled him.

Botafogo also had a good opportunity, but it was their only one in the first half. Jorge Henrique made a beautiful run down the left and hit a cross. Alessandro arrived well, but shot wide.

Then came the red-and-black goal, rewarding the team that had shown more consistency and determination. Souza received the ball on the left, marked by both black-and-white defenders, and found Juan unmarked in the penalty area. The full-back took advantage of the goalkeeper's poor position and slotted the ball under him, opening the scoring in the 34th minute.

At halftime, Cuca, who had already lost Joilson to injury and Adriano Felício came on, brought on Alessandro and Reinaldo, putting the team even more attacking. Joel opted not to change what was working.

At the start of the second half, it seemed like Flamengo would once again come out on top. After all, Toró and Renato Augusto nearly scored, galvanizing the Flamengo fans. However, Toró was replaced by Obina, sapping the team's consistency.

Shortly after the center forward's introduction, the black-and-white equalizer came. Adriano Felício scrambled down the right, twisted Renato Augusto, and crossed. Túlio deflected the ball, and Jorge Henrique, Botafogo's best player on the pitch, dived to score in the 13th minute.

The match was open, as only a victory was important to both teams. Flamengo was already looking a bit tired, and Botafogo was better. However, a blunder by Renato Silva, who grabbed Obina inside the box, gave Flamengo a chance. Souza's shot was weak, and Max caught it, redeeming himself for his mistake in the first goal in the 30th minute.

After that, only Botafogo had chances, but Bruno stopped them. First, Juninho unleashed a powerful free kick, which the goalkeeper parried. Later, Reinaldo fired a shot from outside the box, which Bruno saved well. And in the 45th minute, Zé Roberto fired a shot from outside the box into the corner, but the red-and-black number 1 secured the fifth draw of the year.

Obina: 'Flamengo deserves congratulations for the match'

Striker came on in the second half and suffered a penalty against Botafogo

With Botafogo playing better in the second half of Wednesday's derby, coach Joel Santana brought on Obina for Toró, much to the delight of Flamengo fans. With little time on the field, the Flamengo favorite was pulled down by Renato Silva in the play that led to Souza's missed penalty. Even with the draw, the striker congratulated his teammates on the performance.

"It's always difficult to win a classic. We tried hard, and Flamengo deserves congratulations. But we need to score more goals to win matches," he explained.

Juan complains about the refereeing of the classic

Full-back says referee called too many fouls close to Flamengo's box

Left-back Juan, who scored the red-and-black goal and was the best player on Joel Santana's team's pitch, was dissatisfied with the 1-1 draw with Botafogo on Wednesday night. Before heading to the locker room, he said the team from Gávea had been wronged by the refereeing.

"We had the chance from the penalty spot and didn't score. But we have time to recover those lost points. There's still a long way to go in the championship. Classics are always tough. The referee gave every free kick near our box that he could have called. Botafogo is always complaining about the refereeing, and this is what it's all about," said Juan.

The man with the whistle was José Henrique de Carvalho from São Paulo, assisted by Aristeu Leonardo Tavares and Dilbert Pedrosa Moisés from Rio de Janeiro.

Bruno bets on Maracanã to climb even higher

Goalkeeper says goal is to add points to move away from the relegation zone

Flamengo goalkeeper Bruno had his hands full in the second half of the derby against Botafogo on Wednesday night. The Gávea goalkeeper saved his team from defeat on at least three occasions. Despite the match's result, the player continues to rely on the Maracanã stadium's power to keep Flamengo away from the relegation zone.

"The penalty was our chance to win, and we wasted it. But Flamengo is picking up steam, and we'll have several matches at Maracanã to climb even higher in the table. Our goal is to get as many points as possible to get away from the relegation zone. We'll go after it," he said.

Léo Moura considers the result good for both sides

The full-back, however, thinks Fla wasted the chance to beat their rivals.

The penalty missed by striker Souza in the second half of the derby between Flamengo and Botafogo practically decided the 1-1 result. For Flamengo right-back Leonardo Moura, the team from Gávea could not miss the chance to secure three more points playing at Maracanã, but he still considered the result good for both teams.

"The team played well. We had a chance to win, but we ended up wasting it. The result was good for both teams, and now we have to focus on the match against Sport," he said.

Flamengo should sign another Argentine

Hugo Colace is a defensive midfielder and plays for Estudiantes (ARG)

Hugo Colace could be another reinforcement for Fla in this Brazilian Championship (Credit: Disclosure)

Flamengo is investing in another Argentine player this season and is negotiating with midfielder Hugo Colace, from Estudiantes de la Plata and a product of Argentinos Juniors. The player is another South American investment, as the team signed fellow Argentine Maxi Biancucchi about two months ago.

The player played in the U-17 World Cup for the Argentine national team alongside Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tévez and has also played for the U-20 team.

According to Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, the club is still negotiating with the player and could reach an agreement in the coming hours. If the signing is finalized, the Argentine will still be eligible for registration in the Brazilian Championship, as the registration period ends this Friday.

Check out the player's technical sheet below:

Name: Hugo Colace\ Date of Birth: 06/01/1984\ Place: Vicente López, Buenos Aires (ARG)\ Height and weight: 1,77 cm and 73 kg\ Position: Defensive midfielder\ Clubs: Argentinos Jrs., Newell's Old Boys and Argentina under-17 and under-20 national teams\

Márcio Braga promises to help Vasco

Gigante da Colina Stadium may be auctioned due to debt

President doesn't want rival to lose its stadium (Credit: Gilvan de Souza)

Vasco da Gama may have its stadium auctioned off due to a debt with the Cofins tax (tax on taxes). This news was not well received by Flamengo president Márcio Braga. He laments the situation and states that he will help his biggest rival in any way possible, as the club he manages depends on the Cruzmaltinos.

"Vasco's stadium is very graceful, beautiful, and traditional. And regardless of its leaders, the club is traditional. Vasco is a great institution. Forget the leaders, including Flamengo's. We shouldn't dwell on personal matters, because Flamengo's wealth, health, and revenue depend heavily on Vasco. We need this rivalry," he declared to Rádio Brasil, also giving his full support to his rival:

- I'm going to make sure the stadium doesn't go to auction.