Cunha, Jesus score in 1st half as Botafogo holds on to beat Sounders 2-1 in Club World Cup
Seattle Sounders' Cristian Roldan is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders at Seattle Lumen Field, in Seattle, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Botafogo's goalkeeper John, right, reacts with teammate Alexander Barboza during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders at Seattle Lumen Field, in Seattle, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Botafogo's Igor Jesus celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders at Seattle Lumen Field, in Seattle, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Seattle Sounders' Nouhou Toloreacts after getting a yellow card during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders at Seattle Lumen Field, in Seattle, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Botafogo's Jair Cunha celebrates after scoring the opening goal with Alex Telles, top, during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders at Seattle Lumen Field, in Seattle, Sunday, June 15, 2025.(AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Botafogo's Jair Cunha celebrates after scoring the opening goal with Alex Telles, top, during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders at Seattle Lumen Field, in Seattle, Sunday, June 15, 2025.(AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Seattle Sounders' Cristian Roldan is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders at Seattle Lumen Field, in Seattle, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Botafogo's goalkeeper John, right, reacts with teammate Alexander Barboza during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders at Seattle Lumen Field, in Seattle, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Botafogo's Igor Jesus celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders at Seattle Lumen Field, in Seattle, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Seattle Sounders' Nouhou Toloreacts after getting a yellow card during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders at Seattle Lumen Field, in Seattle, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Botafogo's Jair Cunha celebrates after scoring the opening goal with Alex Telles, top, during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders at Seattle Lumen Field, in Seattle, Sunday, June 15, 2025.(AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
SEATTLE (AP) — Jair Cunha and Igor Jesus scored in the first half and Botafogo beat the Seattle Sounders 2-1 at the Club World Cup on Sunday night.
Botafogo opened the scoring 28 minutes into the game as Cunha headed in a pass from Alex Telles. It came after a contentious yellow card to Nouhou Tolo gave the visitors a direct free kick just beyond the corner of the penalty box. Sounders players felt the call was unfair as there had been some unobserved jostling between Tolo and Artur before Tolo shoved his opponent to the ground.
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Botafogo doubled the lead in the first half's final minutes with another headed goal. Vitinho connected with his 24-year-old star teammate Igor Jesus, who sent a powerful header to the bottom corner.
The Sounders played better in the second half, buoyed by their energetic subs. Four minutes after coming into the match, Paul Rothrock provided the assist for Christian Roldan's header in the 75th minute that deflected off Jesus.
Key Moment
The Sounders had two shots on target in a row in the final 30 seconds of stoppage time to try to tie the score, but the first was well blocked by a defender before John smothered Rothrock's attempt.
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Takeaways
Seattle will now have to try to win points off the perceived titans of Group B, Atlético Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain to avoid going out in the group stage. Botafogo played good defense to hold onto its lead and is second in Group B on goal difference.
___
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