South American champions, Botafogo, have pulled off the shock result of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, following a 1-0 win over European champions, Paris Saint-Germain, in a Group B match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena on Thursday.
Both teams came into the encounter on the back of claiming titles in their respective continents – Botafogo beat Atletico Mineiro to win the Copa Libertadores while PSG thrashed Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
And with a win from their opening games in the competition, there was all to play for in California and PSG were first to get a sight of goal after just two minutes. But Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s shot after a drive towards the Botafogo goal was saved by John.
The reigning South American champions were next to go for goal, but PSG shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma made an easy save from Artur’s long range effort after six minutes of a keenly contested encounter.
Botafogo would get the go-ahead goal after 35 minutes, though. The Brazilians won the ball in midfield and Marlon Freitas moved the ball to Jefferson Savarino, who spotted the run of Igor Jesus and sent the striker on his way to score a deflected effort that left Donnarumma wrong-footed.
Donnarumma saved a weak effort from former Manchester United man, Alex Telles in the opening seconds of the second half. But PSG came mightily close to equalising three minutes later only for Goncalo Ramos to see his header from point-blank range saved by John.
PSG continued their siege on the Botafogo goal in the second period and had the ball in the net after 76 minutes, but Bradley Barcola’s goal was ruled out for offside as the ball deflected off Kvaratskhelia – in an offside position – to the PSG attacker.
Kvaratskhelia went close in the first minute of stoppage time, sending a free-kick onto the roof of John’s goal, as the Brazilians held on to claim a famous win in a clash of continental champions.