Is this the biggest bottle job in football history? Brazilian club Botafogo were 14 points clear at the top… but then won just two of 15 games to blow their huge lead in mad four-way title race

The Brazilian league has served up one of the most exciting title races in world football with four clubs still in with a chance of winning it with two matches left.

But that won’t be any consolation to Botafogo, who find themselves on the brink of one of the biggest bottle jobs in history.

The team from Rio de Janeiro, who haven’t won a league title since 1995, won 15 of their opening 19 Serie A matches this season to establish a commanding 14-point lead at the summit.

But since then, they’ve well and truly choked by winning just two of their last 15 games.

That has left them three points behind leaders Palmeiras entering those final two rounds of fixtures, level on points with both Atletico Mineiro and Flamengo in an extraordinary finish.

Four sides can still win the title in Brazil with two rounds of the season remaining 

What’s even worse for Botafogo is that they’ve been very much the architects of their own downfall not only with the torrid run of results but by folding within games.

Earlier this month, they led Palmeiras 3-0 at home, only to end up losing 4-3. There was also a collapse from 3-1 ahead against Gremio to lose by the same scoreline.

In recent weeks, they have seen two crucial points slip through their fingers in two games as both Red Bull Bragantino and Santos scored last-minute equalisers.

And there were more extraordinary scenes on Wednesday night as they somehow conspired to draw at relegated Coritiba having been in front in the 97th-minute.

When Tiquinho Soares converted a stoppage time penalty, Botafogo thought they’d claimed a priceless win to keep alive their title dream.

But in the 99th-minute, they switched off at the back, allowing Coritiba’s Edu to equalise at the back post with the game’s final kick.

It leaves Palmeiras, the reigning Brazilian champions, in pole position with their three-point advantage.

They host seventh-placed Fluminense in their penultimate game of the season on Sunday, before Botafogo host Cruzeiro later in the evening.

Botafogo thought they were on course for a crucial victory when Tiquinho Soares converted a penalty in the 97th-minute of Wednesday night’s game with Coritiba 

But Coritiba levelled in the9 99th minute, to the dismay of the Botafogo players 

Botafogo coach Tiago Nunes looks on in dismay as his team blew another golden opportunity 

If it goes to the final day on December 7, Palmeiras are away to Cruzeiro and Botafogo head to Internacional.  

Atletico Mineiro host Sao Paulo in their next game before heading to Bahia, while Flamengo play at home to Cuiaba and then Sao Paulo.

Like Botafogo, those two will require Palmeiras to slip up if they’re to snatch the title from them.

Should two or more of the title contenders finish level on points, they will be separated firstly by the number of wins achieved and then by goal difference.

Bizarrely, Botafogo, Atletico Mineiro and Flamengo have all won 18 games.

Botafogo’s collapse has not been without controversy. Their owner John Textor, who is also owner of Crystal Palace and Lyon, raged against ‘corruption’ after their dramatic loss to Palmeiras.

Textor dispensed with the services of former Wolves boss Bruno Lage in early October after results started to slide. 

The game hinged on a controversial red card handed to Botafogo defender Adryelson after a long VAR check when the score was still score 3-1.

Crystal Palace’s American billionaire co-owner John Textor lost his cool on live TV in Brazil

Textor owns Brazilian side Botafogo who threw away a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3 to Palmeiras

Tiquinho Soares then missed a penalty for Botafogo before they conceded three goals after 84 minutes to somehow lose.

And, after the game, Textor unleashed a furious rant live on Brazilian TV and accused the authorities of undermining the game.

‘The whole world saw that is not a red card, he got the ball first,’ Textor fumed.  I’m not sure if it is even a foul. He got a red card, it changed the game, this is corruption, this is a theft. 

‘Please fine me Ednaldo (Rodrigues – Brazilian Football Confederation president), but you need to resign tomorrow morning. That’s what needs to happen. 

‘This championship is a joke. Nobody deserves this, Palmeiras don’t want to win this guy, we don’t want to lose this way.’

Textor, who was conducting this interview pitchside with Brazilian channel sporTV, then turned to the Palmeiras players as they headed into the tunnel.

He added: ‘Gentleman you played a good game. It’s not your fault but this is f***ing corruption. 

‘This has to change. Ednaldo you have to resign for the good of the game. It has to be over now. 

‘This is theft. Fine me, you can red card me, it’s my stadium, I’ll still be here.’