Santa Fe vs Botafogo Match Preview
Despite being held to a 1-1 draw in Rio, Botafogo know that they are more than capable of upsetting Santa Fe in Bogota. The Brazilians count with a very strong side, where Uruguayan striker Sebastian Abreu reigns supreme, after having scored several important goals for the side this year.
Botafogo, who are still in the hunt for the Brazilian championship, are very dangerous when moving forward, however their defense can be quite vulnerable at times. Santa Fe are more than aware of this, and their strategy will be to pile heavy pressure on the Brazilian goal straight from the kick-off.
Santa Fe vs Botafogo Match Report
Independiente Santa Fe of Colombia cruised into the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana after thrashing Botafogo of Brazil 4-1 at the Nemesio Camacho stadium in Bogota on Tuesday. With a 5-2 aggregate score over the two legs, the Colombians will do battle with Argentine club Velez Sarsfield in the following phase of the competition.
Santa Fe went ahead as early as in the second minute, when Oscar Rodas received a great ball from Omar Bravo and beat Botafogo goalkeeper Jefferson with an easy finish. Six minutes later it was Bravo himself who doubled Santa Fe's lead after meeting a ball from Jonathan Copete.
Botafogo picked up their game towards the end of the half, creating several clear-cut opportunities to pull a goal back, however, on the stroke of half-time Santa Fe broke on a swift counterattack, Rodas sent a cross into the area and Botafogo's Leo pushed the ball into his own goal.
Rodas, clearly the man-of-the-match, fired in his second goal and Santa Fe's fourth of the match in the 62nd minute, to the joy of the strong 35,000 crowd.
Botafogo were down and out, however, Alex Oliveira had time to score a consolation goal four minutes from full-time when he beat Camilo Vargas with a powerful shot that went in off the post.