Botafogo Edge Seattle Sounders in Gritty Club World Cup Clash
Just watched the clash between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders in the FIFA Club World Cup Group B, and what a match it was! This game had intensity, drama, and a tale of two halves. At the end of 90 minutes, Botafogo walked away with a hard-earned 2-1 victory, but trust me, the scoreboard doesn't tell the full story.
From the kickoff, Botafogo came out with purpose. They weren't the team with the most possession—in fact, they only held about 40% of the ball—but they made their moments count. The first goal came in the 28th minute when Jair found the net after an assist from Alex Telles. Just before the break, Igor Jesus doubled the lead thanks to a clever pass from Vitinho. At halftime, it looked like Botafogo were cruising, leading 2-0 and seemingly in control.
But the second half? That was all Seattle.
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Seattle Sounders dominated the ball, registering nearly 60% possession, and outshot Botafogo 23 to 12. Cristian Roldan managed to pull one back for Seattle in the 75th minute after a sharp assist from Paul Rothrock, setting up a tense final stretch. The Sounders kept pressing, launching 42 touches inside Botafogo’s box compared to just 12 from the Brazilians, but the equalizer never came.
You could feel the momentum shift in Seattle’s favor in the second half, yet Botafogo’s defense stood tall. They put in 33 tackles and made a staggering 42 clearances—22 of those were headed. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was effective. Their defensive wall, led by Vitinho and Jair, absorbed wave after wave of Seattle pressure.
One stat that jumps out is the shooting accuracy. Seattle had more attempts, but Botafogo were more clinical—six shots on target from twelve, while Seattle had only four on target from their 23 efforts. Goalkeeper John for Botafogo made some clutch saves too, proving key in maintaining their lead under relentless pressure.
It’s also worth noting how physical Botafogo played—18 fouls committed compared to just 6 from Seattle. That aggressive edge clearly disrupted the Sounders’ rhythm, especially in the first half.
So while Seattle had more of the ball and more shots, Botafogo had more grit. It was a perfect example of a team making the most of its chances and defending with heart when it mattered most. With this win, Botafogo now sits right behind PSG in Group B, both with three points but separated by goal difference.
This was a statement game for Botafogo—a reminder that in knockout football, it’s not just about how much you dominate but how well you execute. Seattle will feel hard done by, and honestly, they played well enough to deserve a point. But in the end, it’s Botafogo who move forward, taking a big step toward the knockout stages.
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