Brazilian side Botafogo have secured their place in the knockout stages of the FIFA Club World Cup, advancing despite a 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in their final Group B match on Monday.
Atletico Madrid, who needed to win by at least three goals to have any chance of qualifying, were eliminated from the tournament. Veteran French striker Antoine Griezmann scored the game’s only goal in the final minutes, but it was not enough to overturn the goal difference required.
For much of the contest, Diego Simeone’s side struggled to break down a resolute Botafogo defence. After a goalless first half, Griezmann was introduced as a substitute and immediately provided a spark, hitting the post from a tight angle shortly after his arrival. Norwegian striker Alexander Sorloth also missed a clear headed opportunity from close range for the Spanish team.
The match was not without controversy. In first-half stoppage time, Atletico had a strong penalty appeal when Julian Alvarez went down in the box. After a VAR review, the on-field referee determined that while a foul on Alvarez had occurred, it was preceded by an infringement by his teammate Sorloth, resulting in a free-kick to Botafogo instead.
Griezmann finally found the breakthrough for Atletico late in the game, but it proved to be merely a consolation.
Despite the loss, Botafogo progressed as the second-placed team in Group B, following Paris St-Germain’s victory over the Seattle Sounders which saw the French side top the group.
Botafogo will now face fellow Brazilian club Palmeiras, the winners of Group A, in the round of 16. The match is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 28, in Philadelphia.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.