RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Two-time Brazilian Serie A champions Botafogo were relegated to the Serie B on Friday after 1-0 home defeat to Sport Recife.
Iago Maidana sentenced the hosts to their 18th loss of the top-flight season by converting a 24th-minute penalty after Romildo Souza's handball.
The result left Botafogo rooted to the bottom of the 20-team standings, four points behind 19th-placed Coritiba. Sport rose to 14th, two points clear of the drop zone with four matches remaining in the season.
Once one of Brazil's biggest clubs, Botafogo have fallen on hard times in recent years, having been relegated three times since 2002.
The club's poor performances over the past year came despite high-profile signings such as Japanese midfielder Keisuke Honda and former Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou, both of whom struggled with poor form and injuries. Enditem
