Part 3/7:
The 1973 Copa Libertadores further exemplified this pattern. Again, Botafogo seemed poised for success, progressing well in the group stages only to falter dramatically in the semifinals. After a promising start, they succumbed to Colo-Colo, conceding two quick goals late in the match, a theme that would haunt them through the decades.
Years later, another intense moment occurred during the 1996 tournament. After a valiant effort, they were eliminated in the knockout stage by Grêmio after a series of increasingly frustrating matches where luck seemed to evade them at critical moments—timely goals conceded that echoed a haunting refrain of “what could have been.”