Botafogo defeated Bragantino 2-1 at home in the match for Phase 3 of the Copa Libertadores and arrives with a slim advantage for the return leg next week that will determine a spot in the group stage. The standout player was Júnior Santos, the author of the two fantastic goals that secured victory for Fogão.
The first half at the Nilton Santos Stadium in Rio de Janeiro was intense, although with few clear chances for both teams. The deadlock was broken in the 43rd minute with the first of Júnior Santos’ two masterpieces: he received the ball alone on the wing, dribbled past his markers, entered the box, and fired past goalkeeper Cleiton amidst five opponents.
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The local fans were still celebrating that goal when the partial equalizer arrived. In stoppage time, Helinho delivered a cross from a free-kick on the left side, and Juninho Capixaba rose higher than everyone to head the ball into the net.
Motivated by this late first-half goal, Bragantino was more offensive in the second half. However, it was Fogão who struck in the 73rd minute with Júnior Santos’ second stunning goal of the night.
The winger received a pass from Damián Suárez inside the box but found himself with his back to the goal and the ball at waist height. Without letting it drop, he turned and connected a left-footed volley that found the back of the net.
The hero of the night had scored four goals against Aurora from Bolivia last week and now stands as Botafogo’s all-time leading goal scorer in the Libertadores.
The return leg at the Nabi Abi Chedid Stadium in Bragança Paulista will take place next Wednesday, March 13th. Fogão will aim to return to the group stage of the Libertadores after seven years of absence, while Bragantino will need to win to overturn the aggregate. The losing team in the tie will move on to play in the Copa Sudamericana.
