0-0: Botafogo can't beat a rocky Sao Paulo

Botafogo pressed and attacked to the point of exhaustion, but was unable to go beyond a goalless draw on Wednesday against a Sao Paulo who resisted with fortitude in the Nilton Santosin this Brazilian quarterfinal duel Libertadores Cup.

The tie will be decided in seven days on the Tricolor field. Morumbi.

The set of Rio de Janeiro He did everything right, to the sound of Luis Henrique and the Venezuelan Jefferson Savarinoexcept for the essential: marking.

Instead, Sao Paulodoing very little, goes to the return match with a valuable loot after an exercise of absolute resistance led by Sabino and the Ecuadorian Robert Arboleda.

Although this first assault only had one master and lord: the Botafogo. The team led by the Portuguese Artur Jorge nullified a São Paulo that only dedicated itself to bailing out water.

He applied suffocating pressure and locked down his opponent from start to finish. He made his intentions clear from the first minute with a half scissors Savarinowho would later hit the post from the edge of the area.

It was also noted Luis Henrique on the right flank, which has become a freeway for him and the full-back Vitinho.

In front, the team led by the Argentine Luis Zubeldia The field and the stopwatch seemed very long to him. He barely made it past the center of the field.

Jonathan Calleri It was an island in the middle of the ocean. Nilton Santos. Lucas Moura He had to deal with the synthetic grass of the Rio de Janeiro fiefdom. William Gomes He dared to launch some runs behind the rearguard.

Botafogo struck and crashed twice into the wood. First it was Savarino and in the next play bad luck embraced Luis Henrique, although the referee had already cancelled the play.

Marlon Freitas He also came close to scoring with another shot close to Rafael’s goal, who wasted all the time possible every time he had to take the shot, to the monumental anger of the Botafogo fans.

The visitors weathered the storm better in the second half because Botafogowho defend the lead in the Brazilian League, began to suffer from fatigue. The passes were no longer as precise, nor Luis Henrique it was so fine.

Despite everything, the Nilton Santos continued to lean in favor of the home team until the game was broken in the last quarter of an hour.

It was not until the 75th minute that Sao Paulo He enjoyed his first big opportunity in a cross from the Uruguayan Michel Araújo that Calleri inexplicably sent the ball over the goal.

Nerves prevailed in the final stretch, fortunately for one Sao Pauloa three-time Libertadores champion, who has a chance to return to the semi-finals.

For a start, Botafogo will no longer be able to count on Bastos, one of his starting centre-backs, who will miss the return leg due to an accumulation of cards.