Izuchukwu OkosiPalmeiras became the first team to qualify for the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA Saturday night as they beat fellow Brazilian side Botafogo 1-0.
The game ended scoreless after 90 minutes and required extra 30 minutes and perhaps a penalty shootout afterwards.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe game was rather tepid and lacked spark in regulation time before the sudden burst of relentless action in the added period.
Earlier, Botafogo defender Alexander Barboza fouled Richard Rios for the first yellow card of the game.
Vitor Roque missed a golden chance to put Palmetias ahead after he misjudged an inviting cross from Joaquin Piquerez after 10 minutes of game played.
The former Barcelona forward also had a penalty waved away.
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Chelsea-bound Estevao Willian tested Manchester United target John in Palmeiras goal from 25 yards outm
In the 100th minute (extra time), Palmeiras broke the deadlock.
Paulinho slalomed his way past two Botafogo defenders and the goalkeeper to find the bottom right corner with a calm finish.
Palmeiras finished the game with 10 men after captain Gustavo Gomez was handed a second yellow card.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
