Botafogo defeats Duque de Caxias 2-0

Botafogo Official Website - In a comfortable match, Botafogo defeated Duque de Caxias 2-0 at Stadium Rio on Saturday afternoon, in the fifth round of the Taça Rio. With goals from Fellype Gabriel and Jobson, the Alvinegro (Botafogo) provisionally took the lead in Group A with 13 points, one ahead of Macaé, now in second place.

Next Saturday, Glorioso will host Fluminense at 16 PM, in a classic match valid for the sixth round of the Taça Rio.

With authority, Botafogo started the game by cornering their opponents, who offered little resistance. So much so that, in the very first minute, Glorioso had their first opportunity of the match, in a good play originating from Herrera and finished by Fellype Gabriel.

Botafogo wasn't messing around. The opening play of the game only foreshadowed what the first half would be like at Stadium Rio. Quickly, Botafogo had total control of the game and easily reached Duque de Caxias' goal.

Despite it seeming like only a matter of time before the score was opened, the Botafogo goal wouldn't come. The pressure imposed by the Glorioso was clear in plays like Fábio Ferreira's header from a corner kick in the 14th minute. The defender's shot hit the defense and the ball fell to Fellype Gabriel, whose shot was also blocked by the opposing defense. Shortly after, the midfielder received a good pass from Lucas and was preparing to open the scoring when he was stopped by defender Fábio Aguiar.

Time was ticking away and the pressure from Botafogo only increased at Stadium Rio. But the well-deserved goal would only materialize in the 35th minute, when Fellype Gabriel took advantage of another moment of Botafogo's onslaught to open the scoring with a true point-blank shot.

The lead gained energized Glorioso. In the 40th minute, Herrera broke into the area on the left, cut past the defender and was about to score a great goal, but the Argentine's shot hit the crossbar of goalkeeper Fernando, keeping the score at 0-0 until the end of the first half.

The second half started more slowly, largely due to the heavy rain that had been falling in Engenho de Dentro since the end of the first half. However, Botafogo's superiority was clear in plays such as Felipe Menezes's run in the 7th minute. At speed, the midfielder received the ball from Fellype Gabriel, entered the area on the left and shot powerfully, even provoking a goal celebration from the crowd, but the ball only hit the side netting. Shortly after, Menezes returned the favor, passing to his teammate who was free on the left, but the Botafogo player's shot was intercepted by goalkeeper Fernando.

Gradually, Glorioso regained the rhythm of the first half. One of the reasons for the team's improvement was the introduction of Jobson, who showed great determination in attack. And the striker's effort would be rewarded in the 25th minute, when Elkeson dribbled past the Duque defense and crossed the ball for Jobson to simply finish and run to celebrate his first goal since returning to football.

With a comfortable lead on the scoreboard, Botafogo became even more relaxed at Stadium Rio and created a few more opportunities, mainly through Jobson and Elkeson, but the score would not be changed until the final whistle.

BOTAFOGO: Jefferson, Lucas, Antônio Carlos (c), Fábio Ferreira (Brinner) and Márcio Azevedo; Marcelo Mattos, Renato, Fellype Gabriel, Elkeson and Felipe Menezes (Jobson); Herrera (Jeferson).

Coach: Oswaldo de Oliveira.