Botafogo didn’t play a great game against Barcelona de Guayaquil, in Ecuador, this Tuesday (3), but managed to snatch a 1-1 draw and bring the decision of the place in the Libertadores group stage to the return game.
The Rio team had much better possession of the ball, but failed to shoot and didn’t hit the target. In the first half, following a mistake by Fogão’s defense, Villalba opened the scoring for the Ecuadorian team. Matheus Martins, the best of the Brazilian team on the field, left everything the same.
The teams will meet again next Tuesday (10), at 9:30 pm, at the Nilton Santos Stadium. The winner is guaranteed in the group stage of the tournament.
The game
Botafogo took the lead in the game, but Barcelona was the first to have a clear chance to score. In the eighth minute, Rojas entered the area at speed, behind Barboza, and crossed. Vitinho appeared at the right time to intercept the ball as the referee called for offside.
The Ecuadorian fans were encouraged by a mistake by Léo Linck. The goalkeeper saved a ball that came long, high, but lost its balance when it fell and almost dropped it at his opponents’ feet.
Barcelona went forward and was in danger with Martínez, with a shot that went over the goal. Botafogo responded with Matheus Martins, but the number 11 finished over Contreras.
The Brazilian team prevailed with attacking moves, but had difficulties getting the ball out, even without much pressure from the Ecuadorian team. It was in one of these passing errors that Barcelona opened the scoring. The defense passed the ball back to goalkeeper Léo Link, who tried to play Alex Telles.
He missed the pass, and Villalba appeared in the area, practically man to man with the goalkeeper, to head against the post. On the rebound, the player shoots between the goalkeeper’s legs.
🔥 TITO! The first goal shout in Guayaquil is from.
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@Libertadores)
Montoro was the key to Fogão’s reaction at the end of the first stage. Despite being absent from the game for much of the first half, the player found the way to counterattack in two good opportunities that almost led Botafogo to a draw, triggering Matheus Martins.
In one of them, the number 11 took too long and lost the ball. In the second, a reversal: Martins found Montoro at the edge of the area and the Argentine shot over the goal.
In the first minutes of the second half, Barcelona pressed and valued possession of the ball without taking many risks, taking advantage of Botafogo’s lethargy. In a rare arrival from foot to foot, Matheus Martins stretched it out to Montoro, who knocked it out.
As the minutes passed, the Brazilian team gained ground and piled up missed chances. Vitinho performed well after an exchange of passes in the attacking field and played Matheus Martins on the right. Once again, the Botafogo striker wasted the chance.
The equalizing goal finally came at the feet of Matheus Martins. Counting on a mistake by Céliz in defense, the attacker had the surplus, took it from the goalkeeper and hit the corner, leaving everything the same on the scoreboard.
🔝🇧🇷 Matheus Martins and the tie of , for the first leg of Phase 3!
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@Libertadores)
Even the refereeing hindered the black and white team’s attack. Vilmar Roldán appeared in front of Montoro at the moment the player was going to go in front of the goalkeeper to finish, and the promising move was interrupted.
One of Botafogo’s best on the field, Matheus Martins gave way to Arthur Cabral, and in one of his first appearances, the striker headed Contreras’s goal well, who kept the ball.
In the final minutes, Barcelona tested Botafogo’s defense again with long balls from outside the area, but they lacked the skill to get back in front of the scoreboard.
