- Botafogo started their Club World Cup campaign with a 2:1 win over Seattle Sounders
- Goals from Jair Filho and Igor Jesus gave the Brazilians a first-half lead
- Seattle came close to equalising in stoppage time, but Botafogo held firm
Key Takeaways:
Botafogo defeated Seattle Sounders 2:1 in a Group B match of the Club World Cup in the United States. The Brazilians took the lead in the first half through goals by Jair Filho (28′) and Igor Jesus (44′), while the hosts pulled one back after the break with a strike from Alex Roldan (76′). The American side nearly grabbed a point with the final kick of the match, but goalkeeper Danilo secured the win for the Copa Libertadores champions.
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Seattle started the game bravely and showed they would not surrender easily against the stronger opponents. Just eight minutes in, Roldan controlled the ball and fired a shot from mid-range that went just wide of the right post. The Brazilians responded with efforts from Jesus and Telles in the 13th and 14th minutes, and in the 28th they opened the scoring. Telles played a crucial role in the goal, delivering a cross that found Jair Filho. Over the next fifteen minutes, Botafogo dominated territorially but failed to capitalise. Their international experience paid off when they doubled their lead at a moment when they seemed vulnerable. Vitinho whipped in a dangerous cross for Jesus, who headed it in past goalkeeper Frei.
After the interval, Seattle threw themselves forward and pinned the Brazilians back in an attempt to equalise. This left them exposed, and Botafogo had several counterattacking opportunities to add a third. In the 75th minute, Roldan delivered a moment of joy for the home crowd at Lumen Field. His mid-range shot took a deflection that wrong-footed goalkeeper Victor and reduced the deficit. Seattle had the final chance of the game in stoppage time—Rusnak fired a diagonal shot, but Danilo caught it cleanly and ensured the Brazilians secured a crucial three points in their effort to reach the knockout rounds.