Flamengo once again demonstrated that there's no such thing as a lost game. With a goal from Josiel in the 48th minute of the second half, the red-and-black team secured a 1-1 draw with Botafogo and secured the lead in Group B of the Guanabara Cup with 17 points. In the semifinal, the red-and-black team from Gávea faces Resende on Saturday at 16 pm at Maracanã. In the other semifinal, Fluminense and Botafogo face off. That's assuming the ruling on Vasco's Jéferson case this Tuesday at the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) doesn't change everything. If Vasco recovers the points, they will face Botafogo, with Fla-Flu in the other semifinal.

The game started with a lively atmosphere, and Botafogo had the first chance. In the fifth minute, Leandro Guerreiro received the ball at the edge of the box and shot dangerously. The red-and-blacks responded two minutes later. Zé Roberto crossed into the box, and Egídio fired a first-time shot. Thiaguinho cleared it and saved Botafogo. In the ninth minute, Reinaldo received the ball in the penalty area and shot just wide of Bruno's right post.

In the 17th minute, Baptista exchanged passes with Reinaldo and shot from the edge of the box to open the scoring: 1-0 Botafogo. Ten minutes later, Lucas Silva received the ball in the box and shot wide. Flamengo threatened again in the 32nd minute. Obina unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, which skimmed past Renan's left post.

Jônatas, in the 38th minute, had Flamengo's last good chance in the first half, but goalkeeper Renan saved the number 5's shot.

Flamengo came out pressing in the second half and was rewarded five minutes in. Egídio was pushed by Alessandro in the penalty area. Referee José Alexandre Barbosa Lima awarded a penalty. Obina shot into the left corner, but Renan saved.

In the 15th minute, Jônatas was brought down by Fahel at the edge of the box. Bruno's free kick hit the wall. Cuca decided to make changes, bringing on Josiel, Fierro, and Everton Silva in place of Obina, Toró, and Egídio.

In the 24th minute, Everton Silva crossed into the box and Josiel nearly equalized with a header. Five minutes later, Leandro Guerreiro nearly scored an own goal. Renan saved another. Soon after, Jônatas shot from outside the box and Renan cleared it for a corner. In the 32nd minute, Josiel won a one-on-one with Leandro Guerreiro in the penalty area and shot into the right corner. Botafogo's number 1 saved.

In the 48th minute, Zé Roberto outpaced Alessandro and fired a shot. Renan saved it, and Josiel tapped the rebound into the net: 1-1 at the Maracanã.

The players named in the squad for the match against Botafogo will return to training on Tuesday at 9 a.m. at Gávea. The rest of the squad will train tomorrow at 16 p.m., also at Gávea (Juan and Maxi will have morning training in the medical department). The red-and-black team is awaiting the Superior Court of Justice (STJD)'s decision on Tuesday to release the rest of the week's training schedule.

TECHNICAL SHEET:\ BOTAFOGO 1 x 1 FLAMENGO\

Location: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)\ Date/Time: 15/2/2009 - 16:491.452,50 p.m. (Brasília time)\ Referee: José Alexandre Barbosa Lima (RJ)\ Assistants: Wagner de Almeida Santos (RJ) and Raimundo Araújo dos Santos (RJ)\ Revenue - Attendance: R$ 31.761 - XNUMX paying spectators\ Yellow cards: Alessandro, Batista, Fahel, Leandro Guerreiro and Wellington Júnior (BOT); Léo Moura and Thiago Salles (FLA)\ Red cards:\

GOALS: Batista, 17'/1st half (1-0); Josiel, 47'/2nd half (1-1)

BOTAFOGO: Renan, Wellington, Leandro Guerreiro and Fahel; Alessandro, Batista, Túlio Souza (Jougle, half-time) Lucas Silva and Thiaguinho (Alex, 30'/2nd half); Reinaldo and Diego (Wellington Júnior, half-time). Coach: Ney Franco.

FLAMENGO: Bruno, Willians, Fabio Luciano and Thiago Sales; Leo Moura, Toró (Fierro, 19'/2nd half), Ibson, Jonathan and Egidio (Everton Silva, 22'/2nd half); Ze Roberto and Obina (Josiel, 17'/2nd half). Coach: Cuca.

photo: globoesporte.com