Fortaleza EC vs Botafogo SP

The first half was one-way traffic. Fortaleza held 54% possession and generated multiple chances through Pedro Henrique, Rodriguinho, Miritello and Vitinho, but found Botafogo goalkeeper Victor Souza in inspired form. The visitors offered little going forward and their only notable incident was Vilar's 37th-minute yellow card for a foul.

The breakthrough came in the 57th minute. Ronald, handed a start by Reinan Santos in one of several changes to the line-up, capitalised on a defensive lapse from Botafogo SP to slot home his first goal of the campaign. The strike rewarded Fortaleza's sustained pressure and finally beat Victor Souza, who had kept the visitors level until that point.

Botafogo attempted to respond through substitutions, introducing Zé Hugo and Arthur Caíke in the 66th minute, then Rafael Gava and Wesley Pinheiro Santos in the 80th. But Fortaleza's defence, marshalled by Lucas Gazal and Neris, held firm. Matheus Sales collected a yellow card in the 69th minute and Felipe Vieira followed in the 90+8th as frustration mounted for the visitors.

Ronald's 57th-minute goal was the game's only moment of incision, but the real shift came before a ball was kicked. Reinan Santos, the club's permanent assistant coach, made three telling changes to the side that lost to Vila Nova: Mailton and Ronald came into the starting XI, and Rodriguinho was deployed as a central attacking midfielder rather than out wide. The tactical tweak gave Fortaleza a more coherent structure in the final third and allowed them to sustain pressure rather than fading after half-time — a recurring issue under Carpini.

• Ronald (Fortaleza) — Scored the winner with a composed finish. His movement and energy in the final third justified Santos' decision to start him. Player of the match.
• Victor Souza (Botafogo SP) — Kept the scoreline respectable with several saves, particularly in the first half when Fortaleza created a succession of chances. Could do nothing about the goal.
• Rodriguinho (Fortaleza) — Deployed as a central playmaker, he consistently found space between the lines and was involved in most of Fortaleza's best attacking moves before being substituted in stoppage time.
• Neris (Fortaleza) — Solid at the back, though his decision-making on the ball occasionally drew concern per the analysis on ge.globo.

Fortaleza's 2.16 xG to 0.42 tells the story of a dominant home performance the scoreline undersells. The hosts fired 18 shots to Botafogo's 9, yet both sides registered 5 shots on target — a reflection of Victor Souza's goalkeeping rather than Fortaleza's wastefulness. Possession (54%-46%) was comfortable rather than suffocating, but Fortaleza's territorial dominance in the final third was marked: they controlled the game from start to finish and barely allowed Botafogo a sight of João Ricardo's goal.

The victory lifted Fortaleza into 4th position in the Série B table overnight, inside the G-4 promotion places. It was a vital response after the defeat to Vila Nova prompted Carpini's dismissal and the subsequent appointment of veteran coach Paulo Autuori — who watched from the stands before formally taking charge. Botafogo SP, who arrived on a four-match unbeaten run (two wins, two draws), remained on 24 points in the lower half of the table.

Fortaleza's next fixture is away to Criciúma on 23 August, while Botafogo SP host Ponte Preta on the same weekend.

A performance that offered more than the scoreline suggests. Fortaleza under Reinan Santos showed structure, intensity and composure — qualities that had been inconsistent under Carpini. The raw material is there for Paulo Autuori to build on. Botafogo SP offered little in attack and will need more grit to climb away from the bottom half.