Showing posts with label 2016. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2016. Show all posts

Sunday, 9 July 2017

Botafogo Snatch Victory from Atlético

Visited the former Olympic stadium for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic games to watch hosts Botafogo take on Atlético Mineiro at the Nilton Santos Stadium on a rather cool yet comfortable July's winter night in Rio.

The hosts were what I concluded, were conspiring in every conceivable way to try and lose the game. The visitors from Minas Gerais were overwhelmingly dominating the contest in the first half. Botafogo just could not find their rhythm and were just unable to settle into a style of play that they were comfortable with. There were some moments where Botafogo looked like they were lifting themselves off the canvas, but only to be smacked back down by an unrelenting attack from Atletico.
Unfortunately there was a deflection from a botafogo defender after an Atletico strike was not on target put the visitors in the lead.

Unfortunately for the hosts there were also some rough decisions go against them with a goalkeeper handling the ball outside of the box not given as well as a few occasions, corners were not correctly awarded and goal kicks were given instead of corners to the hosts. These frustrations towards the home fans and other unusual oversights for free-kicks made it rather difficult to follow. When you thought that you could get into the groove and understand the pace and flow of how the game was being refereed, yellow cards would be given when you thought it should be a play on or just a free-kick.

The second half was a much better improvement for the hosts as they started to find they way and began to dictate terms to the visitors. The problem was that they just couldn't connect in the final third and were looking like toothless tigers, all roar but no bite. Atletico were effectively shut down in the second half but at moments they did look threatening to double the lead. However, the Botafogo defence held firm and kept any threat at bay.

The drama really occurred deep into injury time in the second half with a penalty awarded to the Botafogo for a clumsy tackle that even Lucas Neill would be proud of. With the final kick of the game, Botafogo slotted it in to draw the match level at a goal a piece.

The extra seating that was there during the Olympics were removed, so both ends of the stadium look very open and the breeze did come through due to this compared to last year. All the seats were black and white and no signs of the blue Olympic colour scheme other than the track and field area around the football pitch.

As for food, it was a delight as always. I had a beer with a commemorative cup for 17 reais, which is roughly 7 dollars and hit the spot. The ticket was 50 reais (20), and a flag was 40 (16). Food and drinks was where it was at and I had popcorn for 8 (3.20) and a beer for the same which was Brahma. I had salgados (snacks) which were like pastry with cheese and meat inside. They were 8 (3.20) and had cheese and a calabresa one which is sausage. They really did hit the spot with the beers and popcorn. I finished off with a can of pepsi which was 6 (2.4).

All in all a good night for football and you cannot be upset about the options and the quality of snack on offer at the games here. Definitely felt satisfied as well as a good game of football.








Visitei o antigo estádio olímpico para os Jogos Olímpicos do Rio de Janeiro de 2016 para assistir os anfitriões Botafogo assumir o Atlético Mineiro no Estádio Nilton Santos em uma noite de inverno bem legal e confortável no Rio de Janeiro.

Os anfitriões eram o que eu concluí, estavam conspirando de todas as formas concebíveis para tentar perder o jogo. Os visitantes de Minas Gerais estavam predominantemente dominando o concurso no primeiro semestre. Botafogo simplesmente não conseguiu encontrar seu ritmo e não conseguiu se adaptar a um estilo de jogo com o qual eles estavam confortáveis. Houve alguns momentos em que Botafogo pareceu estar se afastando da tela, mas apenas para ser derrubado por um implacável ataque do Atlético.
Infelizmente, houve uma deflexão de um defensor do botafogo depois de uma greve do Atletico não estar no alvo colocar os visitantes na liderança.

Infelizmente para os anfitriões, também houve algumas decisões difíceis contra eles, com um goleiro que manipulava a bola fora da caixa não dada, bem como algumas ocasiões, os cantos não foram corretamente premiados e os golos foram entregues em vez de cantos para os anfitriões. Essas frustrações para os adeptos da casa e outras negligências incomuns para chutes livres tornaram bastante difícil de seguir. Quando você pensou que poderia entrar no groove e entender o ritmo e o fluxo de como o jogo estava sendo arbitrado, cartões amarelos seriam dados quando você pensou que deveria ser uma jogada ou apenas um tiro livre.

A segunda metade foi uma melhoria muito melhor para os anfitriões quando eles começaram a encontrar o caminho e começaram a ditar termos aos visitantes. O problema era que eles simplesmente não podiam se conectar no terceiro final e estavam olhando como tigres desdentados, todos rugiam, mas sem mordida. O Atlético foi efetivamente desligado no segundo semestre, mas, por momentos, pareciam ameaçar o dobro da liderança. No entanto, a defesa Botafogo manteve firme e manteve qualquer ameaça à distância.

O drama realmente ocorreu profundamente no tempo de lesão no segundo semestre com uma penalidade concedida ao Botafogo por um tackle desajeitado que até Lucas Neill se orgulharia. Com o chute final do jogo, Botafogo marcou para desenhar o nível de jogo em um gol de uma peça.

O assento extra que estava lá durante as Olimpíadas foi removido, então ambos os fins do estádio parecem muito abertos e a brisa aconteceu devido a isso em comparação com o ano passado. Todos os assentos eram preto e branco e nenhum sinal do esquema azul de cores olímpicas além da área de pista e campo em torno do campo de futebol.

Quanto à comida, foi uma delícia como sempre. Tive uma cerveja com um copo comemorativo de 17 reais, que é cerca de 7 dólares e atingiu o local. O ingresso foi de 50 reais (20), e uma bandeira foi de 40 (16). Comida e bebidas era onde estava e eu tinha pipoca para 8 (3,20) e uma cerveja para o mesmo que era Brahma. Eu tinha salgados (lanches) que eram como pastelaria com queijo e carne dentro. Eles tinham 8 (3.20) e tinham queijo e um calabresa que é salsicha. Eles realmente atingiram o local com as cervejas e a pipoca. Eu terminei com uma lata de pepsi que era 6 (2.4).

No geral, uma boa noite para o futebol e você não pode ficar chateado com as opções e a qualidade do lanche oferecido nos jogos aqui. Definitivamente ficou satisfeito, bem como um bom jogo de futebol.







Saturday, 19 March 2016

Inglewood In Control Against Floreat

The NPL Western Australian Conference kicked off this weekend with Inglewood United hosting Floreat Athena under lights at Inglewood Stadium. It was great to get the new NPLWAU season under way after what felt like an eternity of waiting!
Inglewood did not really looked troubled by Floreat during the match with an occasional counter out wide proved to catch United on the hop at times. With level headed defending the hosts passed the ball out of danger and would switch to really apply the pressure on the visitors.
Floreat looked very vulnerable from set pieces and corners with Floreat having all hands on deck with a mad flurry of bodies to get the ball out after the numerous waves of attacking passages of play from Inglewood.
Floreat could not hold out forever after a gutsy 0-0 first half and conceded the first goal in the 60th minute. Tired bodies from the visitors resulted in 2 goals in the last 10 minutes of the game with Pritchard and O'Connell scoring in the 83rd and 88th minutes.

Gone are the days of chevaps in cups and burgers at Inglewood which is a real shame but it is how it is round here these days. The hamburgers ran out half way before half time which was a shame as there was a good crowd here, but I commend Inglewood for selling their hamburgers which are very good. However I ended up with an "Italian Hot-dog" which i think was just another way of just saying it is a hot-dog but with a gourmet sausage. Wasn't too bad but was just on the side of being a little bit too dry. perhaps I would charge at 4 dollars instead of the 50 if they were to be like that.

However the viewing experience once again at Inglewood was fantastic with drinks and food while watching some football with friends. Still cheaper and value for money than going to a run-of-the-mill Coles/Woolworths run pub/tavern that makes you feel the same no matter where you are. Here at Inglewood you feel like you are part of the community.