How Did Palmeiras Defeat Botafogo to Reach the QF?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Paulinho's
- Palmeiras dominated possession throughout the game.
- This victory secured a place in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarterfinals.
- Palmeiras faced challenges, including a red card for Gustavo Gomez.
- The match saw a record of twenty-three corners.
Philadelphia, June 29 (NationPress) A stunning solo effort from substitute Paulinho secured Palmeiras a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Botafogo, clinching their spot in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarterfinals.
Palmeiras controlled the first half but struggled to generate significant chances. After the break, Estevao began to break through the Botafogo defense, prompting a fantastic save from John.
Despite the 18-year-old being substituted less than 20 minutes into the second half, Palmeiras maintained their dominance, with a header from Mauricio forcing another impressive tip-over from John.
John made a remarkable stop from a powerful shot by Richard Rios at the start of extra time, but he was powerless to stop Paulinho as he made the decisive play. The 24-year-old feigned a shot, shifted past his defender, and curled the ball into the bottom corner, according to reports from FIFA.
Gustavo Gomez received a second yellow card later in the match, yet Palmeiras managed to withstand a barrage of late corners to secure the win.
A total of twenty-three corners were taken during this match, setting a record for the tournament, surpassing the previous high of twenty-two in the Auckland City FC vs. CA Boca Juniors match.
“Never give up, never give in. We work tirelessly for this moment. I told the players that if we play like we do in training, the game will be better than our last performance. I’m grateful for my players’ dedication. We had an incredible match.
“I believe we performed excellently throughout the 90 minutes and extra time. When we had to endure, we did so together, even with one player less. We deserve this because of our hard work. Now, we’ll continue fighting for our dream. Let’s keep this momentum going,” stated Abel Ferreira, the head coach of Palmeiras.