Botafogo hold off late Seattle surge for 2-1 Club World Cup debut win

 

Botafogo hold off late Seattle surge for 2-1 Club World Cup debut win Botafogo made a solid start to their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory over Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field. Although the American side started confidently and looked well-organised early in the game, Botafogo gradually gained control after the first ten minutes. The Brazilian side began testing Seattle’s goalkeeper, Stefan Frei, with a powerful header from Igor Jesus and a volley by Alex Telles, both of which Frei saved impressively. Seattle struggled to create much in response and looked less creative in the final third. Their one chance came from Jesus Ferreira, who fired wide, but the rest of their attacks lacked threat or precision. As Seattle dropped deeper, Botafogo began pushing forward with more intent. A defensive mistake gave them the breakthrough — Nouhou Tolo fouled Artur near the box, and from the resulting free kick, Alex Telles whipped in a perfect ball that Jair Cunha headed in for his first professional goal. The Sounders tried to regroup and push forward, but just before halftime, Botafogo struck again. Vitinho delivered a well-placed cross, and Igor Jesus rose to head it home, giving the Libertadores champions a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break. By the end of the first half, Botafogo looked dominant and in control of the match. Their clinical finishing and control of possession left Seattle with a mountain to climb. The Brazilian club appeared well on course for a comfortable victory, with standout performances from Alex Telles, Vitinho, and Igor Jesus giving them the early edge in the tournament. However, the second half would tell a different story, as Seattle came back fighting in front of their home fans.

Seattle Sounders emerged from the break with renewed purpose, determined to change the course of the game. Their second-half display showed far more urgency, and they managed to push Botafogo back into their own half for long stretches. Jackson Ragen nearly pulled one back with a close-range effort, signalling the Sounders’ intent to get back into the match. Despite their improved energy and dominance in possession, Seattle struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. Their moves often broke down in the final third, with Botafogo’s defence holding firm under pressure. It wasn’t until the 75th minute that Seattle finally got on the scoreboard — Cristian Roldan’s header deflected off Igor Jesus and slipped past goalkeeper John, making it 2-1 and setting up a tense finish. The final quarter of the match belonged almost entirely to Seattle. They piled on the pressure and introduced attacking options like Pedro de la Vega and Osaze De Rosario in a desperate push for an equaliser. In the 94th minute, they had one golden chance to level the match, but it went begging, and the final whistle confirmed a narrow win for Botafogo. For Botafogo, the victory brings three crucial points, but their second-half performance will raise concerns. After a commanding first half, they lost control and allowed Seattle to dominate the rest of the match. With tougher opponents like Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid still to come in the group, Botafogo will need to improve their defensive structure and game management. Meanwhile, Seattle can take pride in their second-half performance. They may have lost the match, but their fighting spirit and improved play after halftime suggest they won’t be pushovers in the remaining fixtures of the tournament. The comeback may have fallen short, but the message was clear the Sounders belong at this level.

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