Flamengo draws with Botafogo in the first semifinal
In Reinaldo Rueda's debut, the teams draw 0-0 at Engenhão
By Lucas Dantas - Flamengo Communications - in
Flamengo and Botafogo opened the Copa do Brasil semifinals on Wednesday night at the Engenhão stadium, with a 0-0 draw. With this result, Flamengo needs a win in the next match, on the 23rd, at the Maracanã stadium, to qualify for the final. A goalless draw will see Botafogo advance. A 0-0 draw will send the match to penalties.
The match marked Reinaldo Rueda's debut as manager. However, it wasn't a particularly exciting game. The teams played the ball extensively in midfield, waiting for opportunities and with few clear-cut chances. Flamengo had more chances and came closer to scoring, but to no avail.
The match marked Reinaldo Rueda's debut as manager. However, it wasn't a particularly exciting game. The teams played the ball extensively in midfield, waiting for opportunities and with few clear-cut chances. Flamengo had more chances and came closer to scoring, but to no avail.
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The first half saw the teams studying each other out. Those expecting a tense match saw the first fifteen minutes of the match go by quite evenly. Flamengo's first chance at goal only came in the 16th minute, when Rever headed a corner kick that Gatito saved well. Botafogo only responded in the 27th minute, when Bruno Silva fired a shot wide from the edge of the box.
In the final minute of the first half, a great chance arose. Rodinei ran down the right, burst into the box, and crossed. Gatito released the ball to Berrio, but the striker's shot went straight into the goalkeeper's hands at the edge of the six-yard box. However, the referee had already stopped the play, and the first half ended 0-0.
The second half began as the first ended, with plenty of passing in midfield and both teams waiting for each other. But in the 11th minute, a free kick was awarded just outside Botafogo's penalty area. Diego's shot hit the crossbar. The play enlivened the fans at the Engenhão stadium.
The night's debutant, Reinaldo Rueda, decided to make changes to his lineup. He took off Berrio to bring on Marcio Araújo and Everton, and Vinicius Junior came on. The young striker, however, only spent a short time on the field.
In the 32nd minute, referee Anderson Daronco sent off Flamengo goalkeeper Muralha and Botafogo defender Carli after a challenge during a normal play. The game was stopped for five minutes. Without the goalkeeper, Rueda sent on Thiago in place of Vinícius Júnior, who had just come on. But neither Flamengo nor Botafogo threatened the opposing goal, and the first leg of the Copa do Brasil semifinal ended in a 0-0 draw.
The second half began as the first ended, with plenty of passing in midfield and both teams waiting for each other. But in the 11th minute, a free kick was awarded just outside Botafogo's penalty area. Diego's shot hit the crossbar. The play enlivened the fans at the Engenhão stadium.
The night's debutant, Reinaldo Rueda, decided to make changes to his lineup. He took off Berrio to bring on Marcio Araújo and Everton, and Vinicius Junior came on. The young striker, however, only spent a short time on the field.
In the 32nd minute, referee Anderson Daronco sent off Flamengo goalkeeper Muralha and Botafogo defender Carli after a challenge during a normal play. The game was stopped for five minutes. Without the goalkeeper, Rueda sent on Thiago in place of Vinícius Júnior, who had just come on. But neither Flamengo nor Botafogo threatened the opposing goal, and the first leg of the Copa do Brasil semifinal ended in a 0-0 draw.