BOTAFOGO SHOCK PSG AT CLUB WORLD CUP

By: Gyang Dakwo

In a result that has blown Group B wide open, Brazilian giants Botafogo pulled off the upset of the tournament, stunning European champions Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 on Thursday evening at the Rose Bowl.

PSG, coming off a 4-0 demolition of Atletico Madrid, dominated possession and peppered the Botafogo backline with waves of attacks, but the Rio club’s defence refused to yield.

The moment of magic came in the 36th minute when a midfield interception sparked a rapid transition, with Jefferson Savarino threading a precise pass into the path of Igor Jesus. The Brazilian striker danced past two PSG defenders before firing a shot that took a wicked deflection off Willian Pacho. The ball wrong-footed goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and rolled into the net to send the Botafogo bench into celebration. Jesus leapt the advertising barrier in celebration, disappearing into a sea of black-and-white jerseys.

From there, it was a tactical battle. Botafogo’s coach Renato Paiva, whose side had edged MLS champions Seattle Sounders 2-1 in their opener, turned the match into a masterclass in defensive discipline. PSG continued to push, probing and stretching the field in search of an equalizer. Their best moment came in the 79th minute when they had the ball in the net, only for the assistant referee’s flag to dash their hopes.

This defeat marks the first time PSG have failed to score since March, when they lost 1-0 to Liverpool in the Champions League. The Parisians had found the net in 19 consecutive matches prior to this.

“We beat them at their own game,” Paiva said post-match. “We were brave, disciplined, and efficient. That’s how you win at this level.”

The result puts Botafogo in pole position to qualify for the knockout rounds, with one match to go. They face Atletico Madrid again at the Rose Bowl on Monday, while PSG must regroup quickly ahead of their clash with the Sounders.