Botafogo Upsets PSG in Club World Cup Thriller

In a sensational turn of events, Botafogo defeated Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in their second Club World Cup match on Thursday night. Igor Jesus’s decisive strike just before halftime secured the victory, propelling the South American team to the top of the group with six points. PSG, unbeaten since May 3, appeared uncharacteristically fatigued, watched by an animated crowd of 53,699 at the Rose Bowl.

Botafogo’s Jesus broke through in the 36th minute with a brilliant goal, marking the first conceded by PSG since May 17. Just days prior, PSG had overpowered Atlético Madrid 4-0 in Pasadena. The French champions, triumphant in their last three matches with a 12-0 aggregate, had also lifted both the French Cup and the Champions League trophy. However, they missed the spark of Ballon d’Or nominee Ousmane Dembélé, sidelined with a quadriceps injury. Despite controlling the first half, PSG, with their rotated lineup under Coach Luis Enrique, couldn’t capitalize.

Botafogo’s standout moment came when Jesus expertly handled a long pass from Jefferson Savarino, expertly evading two defenders before blasting the ball past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. His exuberant celebration saw him leap into the front row of passionate Brazilian fans at the stadium, marking a historic win. PSG managed 16 attempts but only found the target twice, compared to Botafogo’s perfect four for four on target.

PSG lacked their usual fluidity seen in recent stellar performances, though they remain poised to progress as they head to Seattle for their next match against the MLS Sounders. Meanwhile, Brazilian supporters celebrated Botafogo’s epic triumph, with hopes high as their team prepares to face Atlético at the Rose Bowl with an unexpected opportunity to continue in this challenging group.