Seedorf beaten on Botafogo debut
Reuters - Monday 23 July 2012, 08:17
Former AC Milan, Inter Milan, Real
Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Clarence Seedorf made a
losing debut in the Brazilian championship as his Botafogo side
lost 1-0 at home to Gremio.
The 36-year-old Dutchman, described by Botafogo president
Mauricio Assuncao as the greatest foreign player to sign for a
Brazilian club, produced a subdued performance, although he was
applauded by home supporters on being substituted late in the
game.
"The atmosphere was amazing, I hope every game is like
that," he told reporters after Sunday's game.
"Seedorf has only been with us for two weeks," said coach
Oswaldo de Oliveira. "He's at the start of the season and we're
in the middle."
Botafogo are eighth in the 20-team table with 17 points from
11 games.
There were mixed fortunes for the three teams who fired
their coaches on Friday.
Bahia, who dismissed former Brazil midfielder and coach
Paulo Roberto Falcao, squandered a 2-0 lead and drew 2-2 at home
to Coritiba under interim coach Eduardo Barroca with new coach
Caio Junior watching from the standards.
Internacional gave new coach Fernandao, who replaced Dorival
Junior, a 4-1 win over Atletico Goianense.
Figueirense, who dismissed Argel on Friday, went down to a
2-0 home defeat against Sao Paulo, who notched their first win
under Ney Franco.
Figueirense supporters responded to their team's performance
by turning their backs to the pitch en masse during the second
half.
A 4-1 win at Sport Recife kept Atletico Mineiro top of the
table, two points clear of Vasco da Gama who beat Santos 2-0.