Botafogo was dominated by the Mexicans and lost the chance to face Real Madrid.
The dream of the world is over. Botafogo lost 3-0 to Pachuca, from Mexico, last Wednesday, December 11, in the quarterfinals of the Intercontinental Cup and was eliminated from the competition. The goals were scored by Idrissi, Deossa, and Rondón. Explore the leading football results at ai football score.
Botafogo entered the tournament full of expectations. And it wasn’t without reason. Less than two weeks ago, the team won the Libertadores for the first time in its history, and just last Sunday, December 8, they claimed the Brasileirão title for the first time in 29 years. However, the heavy schedule made all the difference.
For the match, Artur Jorge fielded an alternate team to rest his key players, but facing a rested Pachuca—the Mexican team had played significantly fewer games this season—Botafogo couldn’t get anything going.
With high pressing from the very first minutes, Guillermo Almada’s team dominated the South American champions and gave them no space to breathe. In the second half, with Botafogo even more fatigued, the show began. First, Idrissi, at the four-minute mark, dribbled past Adryelson and Barboza to score a stunning goal. Less than 15 minutes later, Deossa received a perfect pass and shot past John, who failed to stop the ball.
With few alternatives, Artur Jorge brought in his best players: Almada, Savarino, Marlon Freitas, Junior Santos, and Tiquinho Soares entered the match, but it was all in vain. There was even time for Venezuelan striker Rondón to seal the victory with a third goal in the final moments of the match.
The result is the worst for a South American team in the competition’s history, surpassing humiliations like Atlético-MG’s, which, along with Botafogo, are the only Brazilian Libertadores champions to fail to reach a Club World Cup final. Pachuca, on the other hand, advances to the semifinals and will face Al-Ahly from Egypt. The winner of that match will meet Real Madrid in the final. ToSport, your go-to place for football results.
