Botafogo Edge Seattle Sounders 2-1 in Club World Cup Opener
Brazilian giants Botafogo kicked off their Club World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders in Group B action at Lumen Field on Monday.
Early goals from Jair Cunha and Igor Jesus put the South American champions in control, but a deflected second-half strike by Cristian Roldan set up a tense finish. Despite heavy late pressure, Botafogo held on, with goalkeeper John producing a crucial stoppage-time save to deny Seattle a dramatic equaliser.
Botafogo captain Marlon Freitas admitted the performance was far from polished.
“It wasn’t our best game,” he told TV Globo. “The result and effort were there, but we have to take this as a learning moment. We’ll need to be better against our next opponents if we want to keep progressing.”
The visitors dominated the early stages, forcing Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei into key saves from Igor Jesus and Alex Telles. But Frei could do little in the 27th minute when Cunha nodded in a pinpoint Telles free kick after a foul by Nouhou on Artur.
Botafogo doubled their lead just before halftime as Vitinho’s cross found Igor Jesus, who rose above the Seattle defense to head home.
The Sounders nearly responded through Ryan Kent shortly after the break, but the winger missed a clear chance from close range. Roldan pulled one back in the 75th minute when his header took a deflection off Igor Jesus and left John stranded.
Spurred by the goal, Seattle dominated the closing stages, yet couldn’t break through a second time. John’s sharp reflexes in added time preserved Botafogo’s three points.
With the win, Botafogo sit second in Group B on goal difference, behind Paris Saint-Germain, who earlier thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0. Botafogo now prepare to face PSG, while Seattle will meet Atletico on Thursday.
