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Photo courtesy of Romulo Paganini
Former Nantucket High School start Caio Correa has over the last three years worked his way up through the ranks of Brazilian club soccer, and is now seeing increased playing time with top-level Botofogo. |
By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
Bigger stage, same result.
In front of 50,000 screaming Brazilian soccer fans last month, Caio Correa showed the same poise, grace under pressure and skill he did when leading the Nantucket High School boys soccer team to a Massachusetts Division III South final.
A continent away and three years later, in his first start at the professional level for popular Brazilian club Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas, the 19-year-old star did what he does best on the soccer field: score.
“It was crazy. The game was 1-1. I was on the bench and the game was 1-1 and it was very difficult. I was just trying to pay attention to the game, but the crowd was so crazy, I had to pay attention to the crowd too. I was really focused and I went in and scored the winning goal,” he said last week in a phone interview from Brazil.
Botafogo was fighting for life in the Taca Guanabara, the first stage of the two-part Rio de Janeiro state championship series, and Correa was fighting to be recognized in a country full of soccer stars.
“That’s how it all started, my time at Botafogo. I was the 19-year-old boy, nobody knew who I was, and right away I get off the bench and scored the winning goal, and the next game I score the winning goal again,” said Correa, his voice resonating with energy and excitement over his recent success.
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