The Seattle Sounders fell 2-1 to Brazil’s Botafogo at Lumen Field on Sunday on Matchday 1 in Group B of the FIFA Club World Cup. Jair Cunha and Igor Jesus scored for Botafogo in the first half, while Cristian Roldan pulled one back for Seattle in the second half.
Botafogo had the first real chance of the match 10 minutes in, but Kim Kee-hee made a tremendous sliding tackle in the box to block a sure-fire chance from Jesus.
Jesus had another bona fide opportunity three minutes later when his snap header seemed bound for the far post, but Stefan Frei did well to dive to his left and snare it.
Frei made a big stop again one minute later when he got low at the near post to parry away a volley from left fullback Alex Telles.
Jesús Ferreira had the Sounders’ first look at goal in the 16th minute, when he cut inside on the right edge of the box and fired a left-footed curling effort that just sailed wide of the far post.
Botafogo took the lead in the 28th minute when Telles whipped in a beautiful free kick from the edge of the right side of the box that found the head of Cunha, who redirected it past Frei from close range.
Albert Rusnák nearly found the equalizer in the 43rd minute when he got on the end of a cross in the box, but his contested volley attempt rattled wide.
Botafogo doubled its advantage one minute later when Jesus rose for a header from a cross by Vitinho, and the Brazilian international Jesus beat Frei at the near post.
Frei made a massive stop in the 49th minute when he denied a shot from Artur, who had sliced his way into the box.
The Sounders’ best chance yet came in the 58th minute when Rusnák found space in the box, but his left-footed shot was saved by Botafogo goalkeeper John. Jackson Ragen had a chance on the rebound, but he couldn’t quite get his feet out from underneath him.
Seattle halved the deficit in the 75th minute Roldan dove for a header that took a deflection of Jesus and beat John. It came at the end of a deluge of pressure from the Sounders when Paul Rothrock played in a dangerous ball that Roldan did expertly well to direct on frame.
Pedro de la Vega seemed destined to find the leveler in the 80th minute after a brilliant run in behind from Rothrock led to him picking out de la Vega at the penalty spot, but he couldn’t make solid contact.
Frei kept the Sounders in the match in the 90th minute when he stonewalled a close-range effort from Joaquín Correa before Seattle was able to clear the danger.
De la Vega had the final chance for the Sounders in the fourth minute of stoppage time when the ball fell kindly in the center of the box, but John made a crucial save to preserve the victory.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Roldan shows out
Even before his goal, Roldan was all over the pitch, helping Seattle in attack as well as being a menace defensively. He finished with four Key Passes and an 87% passing percentage.
Tale of two halves
After a back-and-forth affair in the first 45 minutes, the second half was all Sounders. Seattle pinned the reigning Copa Libertadores champions back with one onslaught after another, but the comeback came up just short.
Atléti on deck
The Sounders will turn their sights to Matchday 2 when they host Spain’s Atlético Madrid on Thursday at Lumen Field. Atléti fell 4-0 to PSG on Sunday in their opening contest in Group B.
