Classic Rio Football Match Inaugurates Brazil’s Most Modern Stadium

Last Saturday, the 30th, Fluminense and Botafogo created a classic match to inaugurate the new João Havelange Olympic stadium. The game, in the eighth round of the Brazilian Championship, was the first great event in the Engenhão, as the latest arena in the Engenho de Dentro district of Rio de Janeiro has been dubbed. Constructed to house football matches and the Pan-American Games, which start on the 13th, the stadium is the most modern of Brazil and had an inauguration in high style, with a huge crowd occupying nearly all of the 45 thousand seats.

As if the rivalry of the oldest classic in Brazilian football was not enough, the game still had a special piquancy, the two teams being on the top of their form. Fluminense, from the state of Rio de Janeiro, current holders of the Brazilian Cup, played against a Botafogo side who are unbeaten in the Brazilian Championship. Alex Dias, one of the tricolor team forwards, scored the first goal of the match and, coincidentally, the first goal in the history of the new stadium. He received the Didi trophy, in homage to the former-player Valdir Pereira, who scored the first goal in the inauguration of the Maracanã stadium in 1950. But the day belonged to Botafogo who, with two goals from their forward Dodô, came from behind and took the João Havelange Trophy, commemorating the first victory in the Engenhão. The 2 to 1 victory guarantees Botafogo the sole leadership of the Brazilian Championship, with 20 points, five more than the next placed team, Goiás.

The Brazilian Championship is broadcast internationally by Globo TV Sports and is currently followed by millions of football fans the world over.