Brentford boss Keith Andrews said the club are behind Igor Thiago’s “big dream” to play for Brazil after the forward took his tally for the season to 11 goals in 13 games with a late double against Burnley.
In a game that remained goalless until the 81st minute, the Brazilian striker opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Zian Flemming replied for Burnley with a penalty at the other end four minutes later.
But Brentford regained the lead a minute later as Thiago smashed home from close range after Jordan Henderson’s ball into the box created problems for the Burnley defence before Dango Ouattara sealed the victory in injury time to inflict fourth-straight defeat on the struggling Clarets.
Thiago, who is also eligible to play for Bulgaria, is currently uncapped by Brazil, but is the highest-scoring Brazilian in Europe’s top five leagues.
“I think Thiago just needs to keep doing what he is doing, consistently do it well, and the goals will come,” Andrews said after the game.
“If he maintains that, I know it is a big dream of his and one that we are supporting him with, obviously.
“From my relationship with Thiago, his aspirations are to play for Brazil. Hopefully, that will happen for him.”
The home side were on the front foot early on, with Thiago firing over from close range after a cutback from Mikkel Damsgaard shortly before the Danish midfielder also went close.
It was not until the final minutes of a goalless first half that Burnley had their first shot on target as Dutch forward Flemming forced Caoimhin Kelleher into an acrobatic save.
Thiago had a goal ruled out for offside and Michael Kayode headed narrowly wide inside the first 10 minutes of the second half and Keith Andrews’ Brentford were growing increasingly frustrated.
But then Axel Tuanzebe fouled Ouattara in the box, allowing Thiago, who missed from the spot at Brighton last weekend, to break the deadlock.
However, Burnley struck back when Kayode conceded another spot-kick only moments later with Flemming scoring his fourth goal in five matches only for Thiago to restore the home side’s advantage with his 86th-minute strike.
Ouattara then put the result beyond doubt as the Bees climbed to eight in the table with 19 points from 13 matches.
Burnley remain second-bottom with 10 points.
