Flamengo and Botafogo played out another match worthy of the rivalry that has grown the most in recent years this Sunday (March 21.03st) at Engenhão. In a hard-fought game with many scoring opportunities, the red-and-black team pressed, but the home team was winning until the 47th minute of the second half. That was until then. Because, with sheer determination, Flamengo fought back to tie the game. Adriano scored in the final moments, securing another draw: 2-2.

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According to Flamengo's captain, Bruno, both teams left the field victorious, as they displayed good football.

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"We have to praise Botafogo. We pushed ourselves to the limit to get the draw, but they also played a good game. Botafogo took advantage of our spaces and managed to counter-attack a few times. We searched hard for the equalizer and, in the last play, we got it. I even thought about going into the box for that ball. However, it wasn't even necessary. We got the goal," said Bruno.

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This was the sixth 2-2 draw between Flamengo and Botafogo in recent years. Sunday's match was the twentieth between the clubs since 2007. Flamengo has won six, there have been 11 draws, and Botafogo has won three. With this result, Flamengo remains undefeated at the Engenhão stadium and leads Group A of the Taça Rio with 13 points. The team has an advantage over Fluminense on goal difference. Next Wednesday, the team returns to play at the Estádio Olímpico João Havelange at 19:30 PM against Tigres.

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Present in the most important matches between the two teams in recent years, Ronaldo Angelim, who replaced Álvaro in the second half, celebrated the result, which is all too familiar.

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"Flamengo and Botafogo is always like this. It's a classic that has been gaining some prominence in recent years, and this result was the most memorable. In the Guanabara Cup semi-final, we could have drawn, but we didn't manage it. Today, we came away with an important result. It was good for us, since we were losing until the last minute," he concluded.

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Electrifying Start
The opening minutes of the game gave a glimpse of what the rest of the match would be like. Both teams went on the attack, seeking victory. A reward for the small crowd present at the Engenhão stadium. With more possession, Flamengo dominated the match, but it was Botafogo who opened the scoring. In the seventh minute, Herrera broke into the area, but Everton Silva made the tackle, making it easy for goalkeeper Bruno to save.

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At 14 minutes, however, the number 19 shirt fouled Lucio Flavio outside the penalty area. Referee Wagner do Nascimento, however, awarded a penalty. Herrera took the penalty and opened the scoring. Bruno almost saved it. The black-and-white celebration was short-lived: seven minutes. Because at 21 minutes, Adriano gave a great pass to Kleberson, who advanced down the right and crossed into the middle of the area. Jefferson parried the ball, and it fell to the Emperor who gently sent it into the back of the net to equalize.

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The goal energized the Flamengo fans, who still had good opportunities to score with Vagner Love and Everton Silva. Then, Botafogo also threatened, with Herrera and Lucio Flavio, who hit the post with a free kick, but the teams went to the locker rooms with the score at 1-1.

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Déjà vu
Both teams returned unchanged, but the score changed in just nine minutes. Similar to the first half, Flamengo started better, but it was Botafogo who scored. Somália delivered a seemingly harmless cross, Herrera appeared unmarked between Álvaro and Fabrício, and finished: 2-1. Shortly after, Vagner Love almost equalized with a beautiful volley that hit the post.

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Andrade then decided to replace Petkovic's experience with Vinícius Pacheco's speed. The team continued to press. Love tried, Adriano too, defender Fabrício took a chance, and even goalkeeper Bruno went forward to take a free kick. But the score remained unchanged. When few expected it, the Emperor shone again. In the last play of the game, Everton Silva put the ball into the area and the number 10 headed it into the back of the net. Flamengo euphoria.

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CREDITS:
BOTAFOGO 2 X 2 FLAMENGO

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Stadium: Engenhão, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Date/time: 21/3/2010 - 19:30 PM (Brasília time)
Referee: Wagner do Nascimento Magalhães (RJ)
Assistants: Francisco Pereira de Sousa (RJ) and Marcelo Braz Mariano (RJ)
Income/audience: R$ 168.040,00 / 6.707 paying customers
Yellow cards: Marcelo Cordeiro, Somália and Eduardo (BOT); Everton Silva, Álvaro, Toró and Willians (FLA)
GOALS: Herrera, 16'/1st half (1-0); Adriano, 20'/1st half (1-1); Herrera, 10'/2nd half (2-1); Adriano, 48'/2nd half (2-2)

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BOTAFOGO: Jefferson, Antônio Carlos, Danny Morais and Fahel (Eduardo, 26'/2nd half); Somália (Fábio Ferreira, 15'/2nd half), Leandro Guerreiro, Sandro Silva, Lucio Flavio (Edno, 29'/2nd half) and Marcelo Cordeiro; Herrera and Caio. Coach: Joel Santana.

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FLAMENGO: Bruno, Everton Silva, Álvaro (Ronaldo Angelim, 17'/2nd half), Fabrício and Rodrigo Alvim; Toró, Willians, Kleberson (Ramon, 29'/2nd half) and Petkovic (Vinícius Pacheco, 18'/2nd half); Vagner Love and Adriano. Coach: Andrade.