FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP: ATLETICO MADRID CRASH OUT AS BOTAFOGO ADVANCE TO R16
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By: Sefiu Ajape
Brazilian club Botafogo secured a spot in the last 16 of the Club World Cup on Monday, progressing from Group B despite falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid.
Atletico, who suffered a heavy 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in their opening match, entered the final group game needing a convincing win to keep their hopes alive.
However, with PSG defeating the Seattle Sounders 2-0 in the group’s other fixture, Diego Simeone’s side fell short of the required margin — even as Antoine Griezmann’s 87th-minute strike secured a late win in front of 22,992 spectators at the sweltering Pasadena Rose Bowl.
The result sent Atletico crashing out, while Botafogo advanced thanks to their earlier performances in the group.
Botafogo — who upset European champions PSG 1-0 in their second group game — finished the group stage in second on six points behind the French giants, who top the section on goal difference.
Atletico, who also finished with six points, missed out on goal difference behind Botafogo.
Botafogo, the South American champions, started brightly against Atletico, with the lively Venezuelan international Jefferson Savarino testing Jan Oblak in the opening minutes.
Atletico, though, grew into the contest and controlled possession and territory as the first half wore on.
Argentina international striker Alvarez had a promising opening in the 41st minute, but saw his shot deflect off Botafogo centre-half Alexander Barboza for a corner.
Atletico thought they had made a crucial breakthrough on the stroke of half-time when Alvarez appeared to be kicked in the penalty area, prompting a penalty check by the video assistant referee.
But while Alvarez appeared to be fouled, the review spotted a foul on Barboza in the build-up and no penalty was given.
With time running out in the second half, Atletico spent long periods camped in Botafogo territory with the Brazilians seemingly content to soak up pressure.
The side from Rio de Janeiro came closest to breaking the deadlock on 67 minutes, with Igor Jesus’s first-time volley from Cuiabano’s cross parried away by Oblak for a corner.
Yet in the closing stages Griezmann grabbed what turned out to be the winning goal, taking advantage of poor marking to tuck away Alvarez’s whipped cross — but it was too little, too late for them.
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