Botafogo, whose only international title came in the now defunct
CONMEBOL Cup in 1993, moved into the last eight where it will face the
winner of Thursday’s all-Argentine match between defending champions
Arsenal and Estudiantes.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Colombia, Botafogo raced to a 3-0
lead in the second leg after 56 minutes, with two goals by striker
Wellington Paulista and a bicycle kick goal by midfielder Carlos
Alberto — on loan from leading German club Werder Bremen.
America defender Jose Velez pulled one back in the 76th minute, and
another goal by the visitors would have seen the Cali club advance on
the away goals rule, but Botafogo held on.
Botafogo is trying to get over the disappointment of last year’s
elimination in the Copa Sudamericana, when it allowed three late goals
in a round-of-16 match against Argentina’s River Plate in Buenos Aires
despite playing with a two-man advantage.
After the first leg, America players had threatened not to travel to
Brazil for the second match because of delays in salary payments, but
club directors eventually solved the problem. (AP)