Pachuca shock Botafogo 3-0 to advance in the Intercontinental Cup

DOHA: Mexican side Pachuca stunned Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo 3-0 on Wednesday to advance to the Intercontinental Cup semi-finals thanks to second-half goals from Oussama Idrissi, Nelson Deossa and Salomon Rondon.

Pachuca will face Egypt’s Al-Ahly on Saturday for a chance to play against Champions League holders Real Madrid in next-week’s final.

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Following a long trip from Rio de Janeiro and playing against Pachuca less than three days after clinching the Brazilian league title, Botafogo manager Artur Jorge rested several key players from the start and his exhausted side were a shadow of the dominant force that took South American football by storm in 2024.

They dominated possession but were wasteful, missing too many chances and ended up being punished when Idrissi brilliantly dribbled past three players on his way into the box before firing home from close range in the 50th minute.

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A mistake by Botafogo defence gifted Deossa the second goal in the 66th minute and Rondon struck from a quick counter-attack in the 80th minute to wrap up victory for the CONCACAF champions.