Guanabara Cup Final, Sunday: América x Botafogo
Written by Vicente Espineli , 12.02 10h57
The same clubs, different players and 39 years later. Botafogo won the 1967 Guanabara Cup, beating América. 3-2. Botafogo’s Coach, Carlos Roberto played in that game, and spoke to the press about the experience, during last afternoon’s training session:
“It was a dramatic victory, América was leading, but we came back to that spectacular victory, led by Paulo César Caju, who scored 3 times”.
Today, both squads are in excellent form and both are hopeful to be the champions after the final whistle. Botafogo has a lack of titles for 9 years ago. América’s drought is even longer, The “Red Devils” last conquest was in 1972, when by coincidence they won the Guanabara Cup.
Botafogo’s Defender Rafael Marques, won’t be available. He was judged by a disciplinary Tribunal and punished. In the other positions, it will be the same squad from the victory against Americano in the semi-finals. Right Winger Ruy is completely recovered of a twisted ankle and Marcelinho joys Dodô in the attack.
Jorginho will also have all the players available for the final. The team will be the same of the victory against Cabofriense on the penalties. Julinho was absolved by the same Disciplinary Tribunal and will be in the starting line up.
AMÉRICA X BOTAFOGO
Venue: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
Date - Time: 12/02 - 16h
Referee: William Marcelo de Souza Nery
Assistants: Marcelo Fonseca Duarte e Wágner de Almeida Santos
AMÉRICA: Éverton, Guerra, André, Santiago and Maciel; Válber, Argeu, Bruno Lazaroni and Julinho; Robert and Chris. Coach: Jorginho
BOTAFOGO; Max, Ruy, Scheidt, Asprilla and Bill; Thiago Xavier, Diguinho, Zé Roberto and Lucio Flavio; Marcelinho and Dodô. Coach: Carlos Alberto.
