📝Botafogo FC 0-1 Corinthians: Mauro Boselli's first goal wins match | OneFootball

Corinthians were made to wait but ultimately defeated Botafogo FC 1-0 on matchday 8 in Ribeirão Preto.

A team full of reinforcements and distracted by an upcoming continental tie against Racing Club, the visitors squeaked through in rather controversial circumstances.

Timão enjoyed a numerical advantage from the end of the first half but created little in the match until Mauro Boselli scored his first goal for the club in the 82nd minute.

The home side only created two chances in the first half, while Corinthians did not even test goalkeeper Rodrigo Viana. In the 32nd minute, Marlon Freitas tried his luck from distance but Cássio Ramos got behind the effort.

With the first half winding down, defender Plínio Marcos da Silva brought down Ramiro on the dribble to receive a straight red card. Botafogo was reduced to 10 players in the 41st minute.

The best opportunity of the match so far for Corinthians came in the 60th minute when Mateus Vital’s cross found the head of Pedro Henrique but Timão could not break through.

As the team had success with crosses, manager Fábio Carille introduced forward Gustavo off the bench for his aerial prowess.

In the 82nd minute, Pedrinho launched a ball into the area that Gustavo brought down and Boselli finished past Viana. Botafogo’s defence complained to the referee about the validity of the goal but Boselli’s strike stood.

The win moves Corinthians up to 13 points in the Campeonato Paulista as they retain the top spot in Group C.

Botafogo, in contrast, remain on the bottom of Group D on four points after dropping their second match at home in the Paulista.