greg . 2025-06-28 21:15:03

Botafogo's Club World Cup dream ends in tears after Brazilian bad blood duel heartbreak

Botafogo's Club World Cup run unravelled in the cruellest way as fierce domestic rivals Palmeiras ended their campaign with a 1-0 extra-time win on Saturday that ended the momentum building around the famous Rio de Janeiro club.

Days after stunning European champions Paris Saint-Germain, Botafogo's defensive shell cracked at precisely the wrong moment, leaving a squad who had thrived as underdogs to taste bitter elimination at the hands of every every-too-familiar foes.

A nail-biting, compelling duel wrote another chapter in a captivating and mad pressure bad blood that has gripped the South American nation in recent years.

Palmeiras overturned a three-strike deficit to beat Botafogo 4-3 in 2023 on the way to winning the trophy, and the Rio side responded by beating the Sao Paulo club twice en route to their Copa Libertadores and Brazilian competition double the following year.

Palmeiras were the better squad during the matchStatsperformIn Philadelphia on Saturday, Palmeiras fought back to end a five-fixture losing streak against their rivals and halted their remarkable journey through the tournament's Group of Death, in which Atletico Madrid were knocked out.

While Palmeiras surged forward with intent throughout, Botafogo's conservative approach backfired spectacularly.

The squad that had fearlessly taken down Champions Competition winners PSG suddenly looked bereft of ideas against opponents who know their every weakness.

"The idea was to play in a certain way at the beginning and then change to try to surprise Palmeiras," Botafogo coach Renato Paiva said, his voice heavy with disappointment.

"The fixture ended up being decided by an individual play.

"Paiva rued the chances they missed after Palmeiras, down to 10 men, sat back late in added time, leaving their tournament journey to end in a whimper of domestic defeat.

For the thousands of Botafogo supporters who had dared to dream of further glory, the elimination came with a painful sting – not falling to European royalty but to neighbours from just down the Brazilian soccer block.

Fixture statsStatsperformThe bitter irony of conquering PSG only to stumble against Palmeiras will leave questions lingering above what might have been had Botafogo approached their countrymen with the same fearless spirit that toppled the European champions.

"The work Botafogo did in the US should make anyone who is truly a Botafogo fan proud," Paiva said.

"In the dressing room, the players were silent and downcast, unable to accept the outcome.

"I will forbid them from looking at the ground.

They have to lift their heads and look up.

The world now knows Botafogo better, and that is largely due to the work they have done in this tournament.

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