FIFA Club World Cup
The Brazilian side displayed attacking quality in the first half but had to rely on stout defence after the interval to hold off the Sounders.
First-half goals from Jair Cunha and Igor Jesus left the Brazilians level with Paris Saint-Germain, but in second place in Group B due to an inferior goal difference.
Botafogo grabbed the lead in the 28th minute. Sounders left-back Nouhou Tolo shoved Artur to the ground to draw the match’s first yellow card, and the South Americans capitalised on the ensuing free-kick with Cunha’s towering header. It was the 20-year-old defender's first senior goal.
The South Americans then doubled their lead just before half-time. Igor Jesus easily out-jumped his marker to head Vitinho’s inch-perfect cross past Stefan Frei and inside the Seattle goalkeeper's left-hand post.
The Sounders rallied in the second half, however, and applied sustained pressure in the final half-hour. The home side finally broke through in the 75th minute when Cristian Roldan’s glancing header deflected off a defender and into goalkeeper John Victor’s net.
Both clubs play their next matches on Thursday. Botafogo take on Paris Saint-Germain at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, while the Sounders meet Atletico de Madrid at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Photos: FIFA via Getty Images
