Rio de Janeiro, July 17 (EFE).- Botafogo beat Palmeiras 1-0 at home last Wednesday in the duel between the two clubs that shared first place in the Brazilian Championship standings, and managed to isolate themselves at take the top and three. – point advantage on one of the main contenders for the title.
The team from Rio de Janeiro, led by the Portuguese coach Artur Jorge, added 36 points in 17 games and not only leads Palmeiras by three points (33) but also opened a gap of five points over Flamengo (31), another of the favorites for the title and remains third in the standings.
In a match between the two clubs tied for first place in the standings, both Botafogo and Palmeiras generated several scoring opportunities in a contested and hectic game.
There was a competitive atmosphere leading up to the game as both clubs competed for the title last year. Botafogo had dominated the championship for twenty days but was giving up in the last games and allowed Palmeiras to overcome it and capture the title.
Playing at home, the stadium Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro, Botafogo knew how to impose the power of his attacking trio composed of Luiz Henrique, who reinforced the Rio team this year from the Spanish Real Betis in the most expensive transaction in football Brazil; Tiquinho Soares, top scorer in the League last year, and Júnior Santos, current striker of the Libertadores.
Palmeiras, for its part, always generated danger through Argentinian attacker José Manuel “Flaco” López and youth player Estevao, one of the great legends of Brazilian football and in the sights of several European clubs.
After an even first half, Botafogo scored the winning goal in the 10th minute with a goal from Tiquinho Soares after an assist from Luiz Henrique.
Although both kept up the pressure and never gave up on the attack, the scoreboard never moved again.
In another game for the seventeenth round played this past Wednesday, São Paulo beat Gremio 1-0 at home with a goal from Lucas Moura 9 minutes into the first half and rose to fourth place in the standings.
With 30 points, the team led by Argentinian coach Luis Zubeldía managed to enter the top four of the classification, which guarantees a place in the Libertadores, after managing its partial advantage despite strong pressure from Gremio and the loss of several players due to injury. .
Flamengo, one of the favorites for the title and whose match with Internacional was postponed, is still third in the standings, with 31 points, five behind Botafogo and two behind Palmeiras. EFE
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