OneFootball
Brendan Doherty·12 August 2018
OneFootball
Brendan Doherty·12 August 2018
Bahia’s centre forward Gilberto scored his fourth league goal and fifth in all competitions since joining the team last month.
Much of the match at Fonte Nova Arena was one-way traffic with the home side smothering their opponents for stretches in the first half. Bahia ended the game with 21 shots and nine corners, compared to just six total shots and two corners for the visitors.
The home side’s striker was active throughout the match. In the 13th minute, Gilberto played a clever back-heel across the face of goal after a tight-angled cross from the right side but neither of his team-mates in the area could finish.
Visiting goalkeeper João Ricardo saved Tiago’s powerful header from a corner from Vinícius but Gilberto was on hand to pop home the rebound in the 55th minute.
After taking the lead, Bahia’s goalkeeper Anderson needed to be on his toes to deal with América’s best chance of the second half. Ruy received a pass and launched a heavy shot from about 30 yards away from goal. The ball moved considerably in its flight and Anderson reacted well to the swerving shot that skidded off the ground just in front of him in the 62nd minute.
The win moves Bahia level on points with América-MG at 21. With his goal on the night, Gilberto now looks like a completely different player to the bit role he had off the bench at São Paulo in the 2017 Brasileirão.