Palmeiras secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over fellow Brazilian side Botafogo in extra time on Saturday to book their place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals, thanks to a late winner from substitute Paulinho.
The all-Brazilian clash, held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, was a tense, tactical battle that remained goalless through 90 minutes before Paulinho’s moment of magic in the 100th minute sealed the win for the Copa Libertadores giants.
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Paulinho’s decisive goal came just minutes after replacing Estevao Willian, the teenage starlet bound for Chelsea. The move by Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira initially drew surprise from fans and pundits, but ultimately proved a masterstroke.
Collecting a pass from Richard Rios on the right flank, Paulinho cut inside and calmly slotted a low shot into the far corner, triggering jubilant celebrations from the Palmeiras-dominated crowd of 33,657.
Estevao Shines Briefly Before Substitution
All eyes were on 18-year-old sensation Estevao, touted as Brazil’s next big star, who struggled to impose himself in the first half but came alive after the break. He forced a fine save from Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor, and later found the net—only to see it ruled out for offside.
His substitution alongside Vitor Roque in the 62nd minute raised eyebrows, but the introduction of Paulinho proved decisive.
Palmeiras Dominate but Face Late Pressure
Palmeiras created the better chances throughout the match, including a Mauricio header tipped over and a thunderous strike from Rios deflected onto the roof of the net.
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Despite having captain Gustavo Gomez sent off late in extra time for a second yellow card, Palmeiras held firm as Botafogo pushed for an equaliser to take the tie to penalties.
Botafogo’s Journey Ends Despite Impressive Run
Botafogo, who won the 2024 Copa Libertadores and beat Paris Saint-Germain in the group stage, entered the match with confidence despite losing their head coach and several key players. However, they struggled to find rhythm against a more cohesive Palmeiras side.
What’s Next?
Palmeiras, two-time Copa Libertadores champions (2020 & 2021), will remain in Philadelphia to face the winner of Benfica vs. Chelsea in the quarter-finals on Friday.
With their sights now set on a possible semifinal clash with one of Europe’s elite, Palmeiras look well-prepared to challenge for Club World Cup glory.
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