Knock Out Botafogo, Palmeiras Advance to Club World Cup Quarterfinals

Paulinho was the hero for Palmeiras as he scored the only goal in extra time to secure a 1–0 win over Botafogo, making the São Paulo side the first team to reach the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Entering the Round of 16 as one of the tournament favorites, Palmeiras immediately imposed their dominance from the first whistle. They controlled possession, maintained an aggressive shape, and pushed forward constantly, while Botafogo stayed compact, defending deep and looking for counter-attacking opportunities. Despite being under pressure, the Rio de Janeiro club held a disciplined shape that effectively blocked Palmeiras’ central attacking channels.

In the first half, Botafogo launched several dangerous counters, but none truly troubled the Palmeiras defense. The best chances for Palmeiras came from Vitor Roque, whose shots couldn't beat Botafogo's concentrated defense. Estevão also found the net once, but his effort was ruled offside.

The breakthrough finally came from Paulinho. In the second half, the game remained largely the same, with Palmeiras continuing to press. Long-range efforts from Richard Ríos and a close-range header from Mauricio in the 73rd minute tested Botafogo’s goalkeeper, Victor, who produced excellent saves. With the match still goalless after 90 minutes, the tie went into extra time.

The turning point arrived in the 100th minute. After a dribble down the right wing, Paulinho cut inside the box and fired a difficult left-footed diagonal shot. The ball went through a Botafogo defender’s legs and deceived goalkeeper Victor, handing Palmeiras the crucial lead. After scoring, manager Abel Ferreira instructed his players to shift into a defensive posture to preserve the advantage.

Botafogo raised their attacking intensity in the final moments, especially after Palmeiras were reduced to 10 men in the 116th minute when captain Gustavo Gómez was sent off. Their best chance came from a close-range volley by Vitinha that flew just wide of the target. In the end, Palmeiras held firm to seal a narrow 1–0 victory.

With the win, Palmeiras became the first team to book a spot in the 2025 Club World Cup quarterfinals.

Aside from Paulinho, Colombian midfielder Richard Ríos stood out as a key figure, commanding the midfield and launching several long-range shots that tested Victor. Although European clubs have been linked with the Colombian, a hefty €90 million release clause continues to be a stumbling block for any potential transfer.

Palmeiras will next face the winner of Benfica vs Chelsea on July 4 in Philadelphia, as Abel Ferreira and his squad continue to chase Club World Cup glory with serious intent.