Igor Jesus strike hands Botafogo shock win over PSG at Club World Cup
PASADENA, June 20 — Paris Saint-Germain suffered a shock 1-0 Club World Cup defeat to Brazilian side Botafogo yesterday in a hard-fought battle between the reigning champions of Europe and South America.
A first-half goal from Brazilian international Igor Jesus proved the difference as Botafogo all but sealed a place in the knockout rounds at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
38 minutes ago
- The Star
Soccer-Botafogo and Inter Miami end European dominance at Club World Cup
Jun 19, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) kicks the ball during the second half during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) -Thirteen years of European dominance in intercontinental club football came to an end on Thursday as U.S. side Inter Miami defeated Porto 2-1 and Brazilians Botafogo beat Champions League winners Paris St Germain 1-0 at the revamped Club World Cup. Lionel Messi's stunning free kick secured victory for Inter Miami after they came back from a goal down against the Portuguese side, while South American champions Botafogo delivered a disciplined display to outmanoeuvre PSG. The results marked a seismic shift in a competition historically dominated by European sides, with the last non-European victory coming in 2012 when Brazil's Corinthians defeated Chelsea in the Club World Cup final. Botafogo's triumph was particularly striking. The Brazilian champions entered the tournament with ample preparation time, arriving in the United States weeks in advance and conducting an intensive training camp in Los Angeles. This stood in stark contrast to their gruelling schedule in December, when they had to play the final round of the Brazilian league before travelling to Qatar at the Intercontinental Cup with less than 72 hours to recover. Against PSG, Botafogo delivered a tactical masterclass. Their compact defensive formation frustrated the French champions, who enjoyed the lion's share of possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances. "The football graveyard is full of so-called favourites," said Botafogo's Portuguese coach Renato Paiva. His side's discipline and composure were evident throughout as they nullified PSG's attacking threats and capitalised on a rare opportunity to secure the win, netting the winner in a quick counter led by forward Igor Jesus in the first half. Earlier in the day, Inter Miami showcased resilience against Porto. After falling behind they rallied through Messi's brilliance, with the Argentinian forward curling a sensational free kick into the top corner to seal the comeback. Despite Porto enduring one of their poorest seasons in years, the victory was a significant statement by the MLS side on the global stage. The results appear to underline a shift in the competitive balance at the Club World Cup, with non-European teams benefiting from improved preparation and better scheduling. Brazil's Flamengo and Argentina's Boca Juniors will get the next chance to inflict defeats on European opposition on Friday when they face Chelsea and Bayern Munich. A victory for either of the South American clubs would further weaken Europe's grip on the tournament and show other teams from around the world they have nothing to fear from UEFA's elite. (Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Flamengo will stay true to their identity against Chelsea, coach Filipe Luis says
FLAMENGO manager Filipe Luis vowed on Thursday that his team will remain faithful to their 'fierce, relentless style' as they prepare to face Chelsea in a highly anticipated Club World Cup encounter on Friday. Flamengo, who top the Brazilian league, will look to end a 13-year winless streak for South American teams against European counterparts. The side enter the match in scintillating form after five consecutive victories in all competitions, including a convincing 2-0 win over Esperance de Tunis in their tournament opener. Ahead of the match, Filipe Luis emphasized his unwavering belief in his team's philosophy. 'Never give up on your convictions. I have a conviction, a very clear idea of what I think about the game,' he told reporters. 'I would never, ever change my team because of an opponent. It would be completely and absolutely wrong for the players. We will play the way we have been preparing for eight months.' Filipe Luis has built a Flamengo side that thrive on controlling possession and dictating the tempo of matches. He acknowledged, however, that Friday's clash with Chelsea will require 'sacrifice' and highlighted the importance of an experienced defense featuring former Juventus fullbacks Danilo and Alex Sandro against the Premier League side's quality. 'Experience always helps because these elite clubs have decisive players who don't lose the ball and create dangerous plays,' the Flamengo coach said. 'We know it will be a game of sacrifice. We won't always have the ball, and when we don't, we'll have to run and fight together as a team. The players understand this because they've been doing it ever since I was their teammate and now as their coach.' Flamengo lead Group D with three points, edging Chelsea to the top spot due to the tiebreaker criterion of yellow cards. Los Angeles FC and Esperance have yet to register a point and will meet in Friday's other group fixture. Filipe Luis, who played for Chelsea during his career, expressed confidence in his team's unity and determination. 'The only way to win is with all 11 players pulling in the same direction. Knowing this is the way forward, we definitely have a chance,' he said. Friday's match promises a clash of styles, with Flamengo's attacking flair and possession-based approach going up against Chelsea's defensive solidity and elite individual talent.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Botafogo Shock PSG as Messi Shines at Club World Cup
EUROPEAN champions Paris Saint-Germain suffered a shock 1-0 Club World Cup defeat to Brazilian side Botafogo on Thursday after Lionel Messi lit up the tournament with a brilliant free-kick winner for Inter Miami. Atletico Madrid and Palmeiras also won as the second round of group matches began, but it was Botafogo who stole the headlines. A first-half goal from Igor Jesus proved the difference as last year's Copa Libertadores winners all but sealed a place in the knockout rounds from Group B in front of 53,699 fans at the Pasadena Rose Bowl in California. PSG are one of the favourites for FIFA's 32-team tournament after a dazzling season which culminated with a scintillating 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final. But their hopes of securing a victory which would have seen them become the first side into the last 16 were stymied by a resilient performance from their opponents from Rio de Janeiro. 'A lot of people wondered, but we showed how strong Botafogo is,' goalscorer Jesus said after the win, which kept all of South America's representatives unbeaten at the competition in the United States. 'It was a difficult game and we had to defend well, and we did our job and scored a goal.' Botafogo took the lead against the run of play on 36 minutes as Jefferson Savarino's through ball split the PSG defence and released Jesus. He then did brilliantly to wrongfoot the covering Willian Pacho before sweeping a shot that took a slight deflection past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on its way into the net. 'We knew it was going to be a very difficult match -- they defended very well,' said PSG coach Luis Enrique. 'This Club World Cup is very intense and difficult and all the teams are highly motivated, especially when they're playing against us.' Botafogo's win leaves them firmly on course for the last 16, with a final group game against Atletico to come on Monday. Atletico off the mark Atletico bounced back from a 4-0 loss to PSG as Diego Simeone's side beat Seattle Sounders 3-1. Pablo Barrios scored twice, including an 11th-minute opener which crashed in off the underside of the crossbar. Belgian Axel Witsel came off the bench at half time and almost immediately made it 2-0, nodding in from close range after a Marcos Llorente shot was tipped onto the woodwork. Albert Rusnak quickly pulled one back for Seattle, only for Barrios to score again for 3-1. Botafogo top Group B with six points, with PSG and Atletico each on three and Seattle facing probable elimination after two defeats. Earlier, Messi scored a trademark free-kick to secure a 2-1 comeback win for Inter Miami against Porto in Atlanta in Group A. The Argentine superstar found the top corner with a set-piece nine minutes after half time to clinch a surprise victory for the MLS side and give them a strong chance of progressing. Samu Aghehowa's early penalty gave Porto the lead and they had the better of the first half. But Telasco Segovia blasted Miami level and then Messi's free-kick helped them claim a noteworthy scalp. 'It's a huge joy, the whole team made a big effort, we worked really well,' Messi told broadcaster DAZN. 'It's a really important win for us and we have to enjoy it. 'You can see that we want to compete and today we competed against a really good European team.' Javier Mascherano's Inter Miami have four points from two games, meaning they are level atop the group with Palmeiras. The Brazilians beat Egypt's Al Ahly 2-0 at MetLife Stadium outside New York. A Wessam Abou Ali own goal gave Palmeiras a 49th-minute lead before Flaco Lopez doubled their advantage 10 minutes later. The match was then suspended in the 63rd minute because of a weather warning, with players and fans instructed to take shelter because of a nearby storm before the action eventually resumed. A draw between Inter Miami and Palmeiras on Monday will send both teams into the last 16.
