Igor Jesus scores twice as Botafogo beats Fortaleza to regain the lead in the Brasileirão

With two goals from Igor Jesus in the second half, Botafogo defeated Fortaleza 2-0 this Saturday (31), at the Nilton Santos Stadium, retaking the lead in the Brazilian Championship. The victory was important in the direct dispute for the top of the table, leaving the Rio de Janeiro team with 50 points, two ahead of their opponents from Ceará, who still have one game less.

Botafogo, led by Artur Jorge, broke the almost two-month unbeaten streak of Fortaleza, led by Juan Pablo Vojvoda. The victory guaranteed the Rio de Janeiro team sole leadership, which relied on a solid performance to dominate the second half and leave with the three points at home, against a direct rival in the fight for the title.

First half

The match started off lively, with Botafogo showing an attacking stance from the first few minutes, despite facing a well-positioned opponent defensively. Early on, Botafogo had to make an early substitution due to Cuiabano's injury, who was replaced by Marçal, which already set the tone for the difficulties the team would face.

Throughout the game, Botafogo insisted on playing on the wings, looking for dangerous crosses into the area. Jefferson Savarino, one of the standout players for the Rio de Janeiro team, was responsible for creating some of the best chances, including a blocked shot after a good collective play. However, the team found it difficult to convert these opportunities into goals, coming up against Fortaleza's well-organized defense and the solid saves of goalkeeper João Ricardo, who also needed treatment after getting injured, but continued in the game.

Fortaleza, in turn, opted for a more cautious strategy, betting on counterattacks. Moisés had one of the best opportunities for the team from Ceará, with a shot from outside the area that required a good save from the Botafogo goalkeeper. Another highlight was the VAR decision in the 42nd minute, when a possible penalty for Botafogo was reviewed and, after analysis, ruled out by the referee.

Botafogo continued to press in the final minutes of the first half, accumulating corners and dangerous attempts, but lacked precision in their finishing. Gregore and Marlon Freitas had good chances to open the scoring, but Fortaleza's defense proved efficient, blocking the shots and ensuring that the first half ended without changes in the score. The referee allowed four minutes of stoppage time, but the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.

_{Igor Jesus scored twice for Botafogo (Photo: reproduction/Vítor Silva)}

Second half

The match remained balanced in the first minutes of the second half, but Botafogo showed more organization and constantly sought to attack. Their persistence was rewarded in the 28th minute, when Igor Jesus opened the scoring with a precise shot from the right side of the area, after receiving an assist from Tchê Tchê. The advantage gave the home team even more confidence, which controlled the game and was able to neutralize Fortaleza's attempts to react.

Even after the goal, Botafogo did not slow down and continued to exploit counterattacks. In the 46th minute, Igor Jesus appeared again, this time efficiently finishing a quick play, increasing the score to 2-0 and practically sealing the victory. Fortaleza, which until then had been looking for a draw, saw its hopes dissipate.

Fortaleza tried to react, but came up against Botafogo's strong marking and Lucas Perri's solid defense, which ensured the team's unbeaten goal. The team from Ceará still had some opportunities in aerial plays, but were unable to convert them into goals, with highlights including shots by Benjamín Kuscevic and Breno Lopes, who were blocked by Botafogo's defense.

In the final minutes, the match became heated with some hard fouls, resulting in yellow cards for Marçal, Bastos and Igor Jesus for Botafogo, as well as Emanuel Brítez, Kervin Andrade and Pedro Augusto for Fortaleza. However, the Rio de Janeiro team knew how to manage the advantage, keeping possession of the ball and preventing any attempt at a reaction from the opponent.

G5 Ranking

– Botafogo: 50 points

– Fortaleza: 48 points

– Palmeiras: 44 points

– Flamengo: 44 points

– Sao Paulo: 41 points

Featured Photo: Igor Jesus scored both goals in the match (Reproduction/Vitor Silva)