Palmeiras were made to wait until an extra time goal from Paulinho to squeeze past Botafogo in the last 16 of the Club World Cup with a 1-0 win.

Paulinho Makes the Difference as Palmeiras Edge Botafogo in Club World Cup Thriller

Late Drama, Red Card, and a Solo Stunner: Palmeiras Survive Botafogo Scare

It took every ounce of grit, a moment of brilliance, and a fair bit of nerve, but Palmeiras are through to the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup after a dramatic 1-0 extra-time win over familiar foes Botafogo. Paulinho’s solo effort in the 100th minute proved decisive in a tense all-Brazilian affair that saw the São Paulo giants reduced to 10 men late on but just about hang on.

In a tournament designed to bring the world’s best clubs together, few would have expected an all-Brazilian tie so early in the competition. But with the expanded format, domestic rivalries can travel to the global stage—and in this one, the stakes were as high as the intensity.

A Tactical Battle Between Familiar Enemies

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The opening 90 minutes were a chess match more than a slugfest. Palmeiras, the more composed and possession-oriented side, took the initiative from the first whistle. Their structure, as expected under head coach Abel Ferreira, was clear: control the ball, wear down the opponent, and wait for the gaps.

Botafogo, on the other hand, played the waiting game. Willing to surrender possession, they relied on disciplined defending and moments of transition to try and catch their rivals off guard. It was a sensible approach, and one that almost worked.

The game’s first big moment arrived in the 9th minute when Palmeiras left-back Joaquin Piquerez whipped in a delicious cross from the flank. Vitor Roque, starting up front for Verdao, got on the end of it but couldn’t keep his finish down. It would turn out to be Palmeiras’ best chance of the half.

From there, the half settled into a rhythm. Palmeiras passed, Botafogo held shape. Neither side looked overly adventurous, and with familiarity breeding caution, it was no surprise that the first half ended goalless.

Palmeiras Start to Turn the Screw

After the break, Palmeiras came out with greater urgency. Their youthful talent Estevão—a name already on the lips of many European scouts—thought he had given his side the lead just four minutes into the second half, only to be ruled marginally offside. It was a warning shot though, and Botafogo’s defence began to wobble.

Verdao’s growing pressure forced Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor into a string of excellent saves. First, he denied Mauricio with a lightning-quick reaction stop from a close-range header. Then he got down low to parry Richard Ríos’ fizzing drive from outside the area.

Palmeiras looked likeliest to score, but crucially, they couldn’t find the breakthrough in regulation. And questions will rightly be asked about Ferreira’s substitutions. With Palmeiras in the ascendancy, the decision to remove both Roque and Estevão in the 64th minute raised eyebrows. The momentum slightly dipped, and Botafogo managed to drag the game into extra time.

Paulinho’s Magic Moment

When extra time began, fatigue started to set in—but still, Palmeiras pushed. They had no intention of leaving things to chance in a penalty shootout.

Just ten minutes into the first half of extra time, Richard Ríos again tested Victor with a venomous strike from distance. The Botafogo keeper, who had been immense all night, pushed the ball wide—but the pressure was mounting.

And then came the moment of the match.

Paulinho, who had been lively since coming on, picked up the ball just outside the penalty area. With a quick burst of acceleration and a drop of the shoulder, he darted past one defender and cut inside. His sidefooted finish wasn’t struck with overwhelming power, but it was precise—and thanks to a slight deflection off Alexander Barboza, it nestled into the far corner beyond Victor’s outstretched hand.

It was a moment of inspiration, and Palmeiras erupted. The long-awaited breakthrough had finally come.

Late Drama as Palmeiras Hold On

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But it wouldn’t be a Brazilian cup tie without a little chaos at the end.

Botafogo, finally shaken into urgency, pushed forward with more intent in the closing minutes. Substitute Vitinha nearly leveled with a clever volley at the far post, but his shot hit the side netting.

Palmeiras were soon dealt another blow when their captain, Gustavo Gomez, was shown a second yellow for an off-the-ball incident. Down to 10 men with just minutes left, Verdao had to dig in deep.

Botafogo threw men forward in desperation, but Palmeiras’ backline, marshaled by Murilo and Luan, held firm. The final whistle was met with exhausted relief by the men in green—and roars of celebration from their travelling fans.

Richard Ríos the Midfield Maestro

While Paulinho took the headlines for his match-winning contribution, it’s impossible to ignore the influence of Richard Ríos. The Colombian midfielder was everywhere—breaking up play, orchestrating the attack, and getting into dangerous positions.

He came close to scoring on more than one occasion and was the heartbeat of Palmeiras throughout. If the European interest in him wasn’t already serious, it certainly will be now. His reported €90 million release clause might seem steep, but performances like this explain why Palmeiras are in no hurry to negotiate.

Ferreira’s Gamble Nearly Cost Them

There will be questions for Abel Ferreira despite the win. His team looked most dangerous early in the second half, particularly with Roque and Estevão linking up to torment Botafogo’s fullbacks. Their withdrawal around the hour mark seemed to kill some of that attacking verve.

Yes, the win was ultimately secured, but one wonders whether it might have come easier had Ferreira left his stars on a little longer.

What’s Next for Palmeiras?

With Botafogo dispatched, Palmeiras will now turn their attention to the next round, where they’ll face the winner of Chelsea vs Benfica. That mouthwatering quarter-final is set for July 4th in Philadelphia—Independence Day in the U.S., and Palmeiras fans will hope for fireworks of their own.

The tournament is just heating up, and if this match was anything to go by, Palmeiras are not just here to participate—they’ve come to win.

Final Thoughts

It wasn’t pretty, and it certainly wasn’t straightforward. But in knockout football, you don’t need style points—just a result. Palmeiras got theirs, thanks to Paulinho’s decisive intervention and a team-wide willingness to fight until the last second.

There’s still plenty to improve, but the Club World Cup has its first real thriller.