RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Hapless Botafogo suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Goias on Sunday to round off four miserable days, during which their coach quit and angry fans hurled women's underwear at players.
Having already forced the abandonment of Saturday's
training session by brawling with club security staff,
supporters showed their dissatisfaction by singing the club
song with their backs to the pitch as the players ran on to the
field.
They unfurled banners reading 'team with no shame' and
'team of wimps'.
Botafogo's misery began on Thursday when they lost 4-2 to
Argentina's River Plate and were knocked out of the Copa
Sudamericana after conceding three goals in the last 20
minutes
against nine men.
Coach Cuca resigned after the game in Buenos Aires and
Mario Sergio was named as his replacement.
When the team returned to Rio de Janeiro, between 50 and
100 angry fans protested at the airport, some throwing women's
underwear and popcorn at the players.
On Saturday, fans insulted the players during training and
fought with security staff and police, forcing the practice
session to be abandoned.
Mario Sergio made his debut on Sunday but he fared no
better, with Elson heading mid-table Goias ahead in the 20th
minute.
Further goals from Rinaldo and Ernando midway through the
second half piled on the misery for Botafogo, who had Lucio
Flavio sent off.
Fans protested again as the players left the stadium,
chanting 'team of dolls'.
Nelsinho Baptista, who became Corinthians' fourth coach of
the year last week, also made a losing start when they lost 2-1
at home to Sport Recife.
The defeat left Brazil's most popular club and 2005
champions 18th in the 20-team table. The bottom four go down.
Leaders Sao Paulo went 12 points clear with 10 games to
play after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Internacional.
Uruguayan defender Gonzalo Sorondo headed Internacional
ahead in the 21st minute but the hosts had defender Indio sent
off for a second bookable offence two minutes later.
Sao Paulo, who have 63 points from 28 games and have
conceded only nine goals, equalised when Edinho put the ball in
his own net in the 73rd minute and Borges headed the winner
five minutes later.
During the second half, Internacional officials surrounded
the fourth official to protest after Sao Paulo striker Leandro
pushed a ball boy.
