Botafogo confirmed their domination of this seasons’ Campeonato Carioca with a 1-0 win over Fluminense in the Taca Rio final.
As winners of both the Taca Guanabara earlier in the year, and now the Taca Rio, Botafogo are crowned overall winners of the Carioca Championship without the need for a final play-off.
Rafael Marques scored the all important goal to give O Glorioso the win, after a long shot from Lucas struck Doria in the Fluminense area, before falling at the feet of the striker who slotted home. The striker would have been pleased to get on the score sheet, having had an earlier effort wrongly ruled out for offside.
Clarence Seedorf had the chance to double the lead later in the game, as he stepped up to take a penalty after a foul on Lodeiro bu Digao, but the Dutchman scooped the ball up onto the crossbar.
This made no difference to the final result, as another solid display from Jefferson between the posts for Botafogo kept Fluminense at bay, yet again proving he’s currently Brazil’s number one goalkeeper.
Clarence Seedorf was emotional after the game in Volta Redonda, and commented on how much winning these titles means to him.
“This is a great moment in my career. Each title I’ve won so far had something special about it. I’m very moved to win here in Rio.”
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