(photo: Reproduction/Prime)
Junnior Batata scored a great free kick for Sousa against Bragantino, this Wednesday (1st/5), in the first game of the third phase of the Copa do Brasil. In the 37th minute of the second half, the striker released a bomb from long distance and hit goalkeeper Cleiton’s right corner, guaranteeing a 1-1 draw at Estádio Marizão, in Sousa, Paraíba.
In an interview with Amazon PrimeJunnior revealed that he almost stopped playing football because of the loss of his son in 2018. Guilherme Kauã passed away at the age of four after losing his battle against leukemia.
“I want to dedicate the goal to my family, who are at home watching it. I almost stopped playing football because I lost my son, but God is wonderful.”
“It’s been two days since I arrived. I worked one day and God blessed me with this goal. I want to offer it to my family and people are rooting for me. And Guilherme Kauã is watching over me and happy with his father”
Junnior Batata, Sousa striker
Origin of the nickname
Recently hired by Sousa, Batata played in the Second Division of the Ceará Championship for Icasa. In the competition, he scored three goals in nine matches.
Still on the channel Prime, the player explained the origin of the nickname. “The nickname ‘Hot Potato’ is because of the strong hit I have (on the ball).”
At 32 years old, Junior has already played for no less than 25 Brazilian football clubs, as well as two in Malta and one in Guatemala. The team for which he stood out most was Barretos, from São Paulo: 16 goals in 29 games.
Sousa got angry with the referee because of a supposed unmarked penalty. The move occurred seven minutes into the first half, when the score of the duel with Bragantino was tied 0-0.
On the social network X, the club shared the video of the play and promised to formalize a complaint with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).
“Sousa Esporte Clube will make a formal representation to the CBF against the arbitration team that “mediated” the meeting against RedBull. Shameful, biased and unequal action! We cannot accept what happened yesterday passively.”
Sousa’s publication on the social network
The Sousa x Bragantino refereeing trio included Gauchos Lucas Guimaraes Rechatiko Horn, Michael Stanislau and Mauricio Coelho Silva Penna. Diego Pombo Lopez from Bahia was in charge of VAR.
Watch below
Algoz do Cruzeiro
Sousa gained notoriety by imposing the biggest upset of the 2024 Copa do Brasil. In the first phase, the team from Paraíba beat Cruzeiro, the biggest champion of the tournament, with six titles. Danilo Bala scored both goals in Dino’s 2-0 victory.
In the second phase, Sousa beat Petrolina 1-0. Dinosauro’s campaign in the national knockout tournament has already yielded more than R$3.9 million in prize money.
The return clash between Bragantino and Sousa in the third phase of the Copa do Brasil is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22, at 6:30 pm, at the Nabi Abi Chedid Stadium, in Bragança Paulista.
