Fluminense advances on penalty shootout

A controversial goal allowed Fluminense the chance to decide its fate in the Copa Sudamericana in a penalty shootout. And the team did not waste this chance. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg of its matchup in the Copa Sudamericana against Botafogo last week, Fluminense forced a penalty shootout in the second leg when it scored a controversial goal in injury time of the second leg, this Thursday. And then it won the shootout 4-2, benefitting from its opponent obvious distress after suffering a last minute goal.

Botafogo had the return of important midfielder Ze Roberto, while Fluminense countered with the presence of Serbian Dejan Petkovic, returning after missing four matches. Needing only a scoreless draw to advance, Fluminense opted for a defensive formation, allowing few spaces to Botafogo and trying to minimize scoring opportunities for both sides. The first half ended without any goals being scored, and Fluminense started the second half still happy to wait for time to pass.

Botafogo opened the score in the 82nd minute though, when Junior Cesar scored from a free kick. Fluminense then abandoned its defensive approach and pushed forward, desperately trying to send the game to a penalty shootout. And it managed to do so in the third minute of injury time, when Marcao received the ball on a clear offside position that the linesman preferred to ignore, and proceeded to score the tying goal. Botafogo players complained with the referee, but as is usually the case in plays like this, to no avail.

Thiago and William missed their kicks in the shootout for Botafogo, and all Fluminense players scored to determine the final 4-2 score.

Botafogo continues to fail to beat Fluminense in the past seven games against them, having last done so nearly two years ago, in October of 2004.