Botafogo defeats Guarani in a match for the Taça Brasil.

Agência Rio - With goals from Renato and Herrera, Botafogo showed its ability to react this Wednesday (4) and defeated Guarani 2-1, at Brinco de Ouro, in Campinas-SP, in the first leg of the second phase of the Copa do Brasil. Now, Alvinegro only needs a draw in the return leg to advance to the round of 16 of the competition.

Even playing away from home, Botafogo started by taking the initiative at the Brinco de Ouro stadium. With greater ball possession, the Alvinegro (Botafogo) created danger early on, at 13 minutes, when Andrezinho crossed from the right to Elkeson, who narrowly missed the ball at the far post. Despite being superior on the field, Botafogo didn't have an easy time creating more incisive plays. Another chance only came at 22 minutes, with Herrera taking advantage of a loose ball from a Renato cross, but his shot was saved by the São Paulo goalkeeper. However, Botafogo's superiority in the first half wasn't converted into goals. To make matters worse, the team was punished by an unlucky play at 36 minutes. After colliding with the Botafogo defense, Bruno Mendes took advantage of the little space he had to unleash a powerful shot and open the scoring for the home team. Balanced, the Glorioso (Botafogo) would have the necessary patience to do justice in the first half. At the 44th minute, from a free kick on the right, Andrezinho lifted the ball to the far post for Renato to head it in with skill and equalize the score at the Brinco de Ouro da Princesa stadium. With the goal, the Alvinegro team would gain more tranquility to seek victory in the second half. 

The second half began in the same vein as the first 45 minutes. Even without creating many opportunities, Botafogo was the better team on the field. In the 10th minute, Fellype Gabriel made a good run down the left and crossed for Elkeson to finish, but the midfielder couldn't reach the ball. With sheer determination, the number 9 recovered the ball inside the area and passed back to Herrera, who was unmarked, to shoot from the penalty spot, but the striker's shot was saved by goalkeeper Emerson. With this play, Botafogo grew in confidence and began to pressure Guarani, who held on defensively as best they could. Persistent, Botafogo managed to break through the home team's defense in the 22nd minute. In a play that started on the left, Fellype Gabriel switched the ball to Renato, who controlled it inside the area on the opposite side and passed to Herrera. Unmarked inside the six-yard box, the striker simply finished into the empty net to turn the score around for Botafogo at the Brinco de Ouro da Princesa stadium. Trailing behind, Guarani changed their approach and began to attack. Determined to avoid an uncomfortable home defeat, the São Paulo team managed to create some plays, but nothing that worried the Botafogo fans or threatened the Glorioso's victory.