Santos beats Botafogo-SP 4-2 and qualifies for semifinals
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The Santos soccer team rolled over yet another adversary on Thursday in the 16th round of the Sao Paulo state championship.
Without an injured Robinho and a suspended Neymar, Santos was able to remain in first place by defeating Botafogo-SP by the score of 4-2.
Santos’midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso scored his team's first goal in the 41st minute. Botafogo's Ademir Sopa tied the match in the 44th minute.
Santos’Marquinhos scored his first goal of the match in the 57th minute. Soon after, Botafogo's Adriano scored the equalizer in the 59th minute.
Marquinhos gave Santos the lead with his second goal of the match in the 62nd minute. As the match was coming to an end, Ze Eduardo scored his team's fourth goal in the 88th minute.
The victory guarantees Santos’presence in the seminfinals of the Sao Paulo state championship. With 38 points in the first place, the team mathematically advances to the playoffs.
With only three rounds of play remaining, Santos stands ten points more than the fourth and fifth placed teams, Portuguesa and Gremio Prudente with 28 points respectively.
In the 17th round of play, Santos will host Monte Azul on March 28. Botafogo-SP will host Sertaozinho on the same day. Botafogo-SP currently stands in the seventh place with 25 points. They need to win their next three matches and hope Gremio Prudente, Corinthians and Portuguesa to lose in order to advance to the semifinals.
