Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Corinthians showed their renewed vigor by beating Brasileirão leaders Botafogo in a thrilling 1-0 game at the Arena Neo Química on Friday. The only goal of the match was scored by defender Gil, who showed great finishing ability.
Corinthians wore their newly unveiled third uniform, a bright yellow outfit in homage to the “Corinthian Democracy” movement of the 1980s. The striking uniform, adorned with a black stripe on the inside of the sleeves, recalls the legacy of the iconic Socrates.
The intensity of the game changed dramatically in the 21st minute when Botafogo captain Marçal was shown the red card for a high tackle on young Pedro. This sending-off made the game more favorable for Corinthians, allowing them to take control of the match.
Botafogo coach Bruno Lage responded to the numerical disadvantage with a tactical rethink, moving Tchê Tchê to left-back in a 4-4-1 formation, with Tiquinho Soares leading the attack.
Corinthians coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo took advantage of the lead, instructing his team to press and put Botafogo on the defensive. This strategy paid off in the 59th minute, when Ángel Romero started a fine move and assisted Matheus Bidu, who crossed accurately for Gil. The experienced defender scored the decisive goal with conviction, leaving Botafogo goalkeeper Lucas Perri with no chance.
Gil’s accurate finish demonstrated his ability as a root defender and highlighted the defender’s capacity to find the net, even when goalkeepers have minimal reaction time.
In the 89th minute, Cuesta could have leveled the score, but Cassio saved the ball.
The win catapulted Corinthians into tenth place in the standings, creating a six-point gap from the relegation zone and frustrating Botafogo’s aspirations of extending their lead over second-placed Palmeiras. Botafogo, on the other hand, suffered their third consecutive defeat in the Brasileirão, signaling a challenging period for the team at the top.