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Substitute striker Caio scored a late goal as Botafogo defeated
Brazilian champion Flamengo 2-1 on Wednesday to reach the final of
the Guanabara Cup, the first stage of the Rio de Janeiro state
championship.
Botafogo will face Vasco, which beat Fluminense on penalties
Saturday in the other semifinal.
The winner of the Guanabara Cup will face the winner of the
Rio Cup - the tournament's second stage - for the state title.
In the Sao Paulo state championship, defending champion
Corinthians defeated Mogi Mirim 3-0 in Mogi Mirim with two goals by
striker Souza.
Souza replaced Ronaldo, who is being rested for the team's
debut in the Copa Libertadores.
Defender Chicao also scored for Corinthians, which moved to
second in the 20-team standings.
Four-time Brazilian champion Palmeiras was stunned 4-1 by Sao
Caetano at its Palestra Italia stadium, while Ponte Preta edged
Paulista 1-0 in Jundiai after a curling corner taken by midfielder
Fabiano Gadelha went straight into the net.
Leader Santos, with Brazil striker Robinho playing on a loan
from Manchester City, will host Bragantino at Vila Belmiro stadium
on Thursday, while sixth-place Sao Paulo will face Barueri in Sao
Paulo.
All 20 clubs face each other once and the top four reach the
semifinal stage, which begins in April.
Caio netted the winner for Botafogo at Maracana stadium with
a close-range shot in the 83rd minute after a deflection by
Argentine teammate German Herrera in front of the goal. He beat a
defender to the ball and struck the net from just outside the box.
Flamengo opened the scoring in the 24th when midfielder
Vinicius Pacheco fired a right-footed shot from inside the area
after a pass from former CSKA Moscow striker Vagner Love.
Botafogo started its comeback in the 33rd with a goal by
defender Marcelo Cordeiro, who found an open net after Flamengo
goalkeeper Bruno failed to hold on to a powerful shot by Herrera.
Uruguay striker Sebastian "El Loco" Abreu set up Herrera's shot
inside the area.
Abreu had a goal disallowed in the 43rd because of a hand
ball.
Adriano, celebrating his 28th birthday, failed to capitalize
on his few scoring chances in front of more than 40,000 fans at
Maracana.
"We played better than they did, but they took advantage of a
couple of opportunities and that made the difference," he said.
Flamengo and Botafogo faced each other in the state final the
past three years, with Flamengo winning every time.
Botafogo coach Joel Santana was facing Flamengo for the first
time since he left the club to coach South Africa in 2008. Current
Flamengo coach Andrade was Santana's assistant at the time.
Botafogo is seeking its first Rio title since 2006.
