Arthur Cabral misses goal and Botafogo eliminated

Forward Arthur Cabral missed a goal at the 23rd minute of the first half, when Botafogo led 1-0 against Cienciano in the Copa Sul-America on 20/8. The miss was widely discussed by Portuguese media and led to Botafogo’s elimination.

23 Aug 2026

Updated 25 Aug 2026 By Olavo Quaresma · senior correspondent

Missed goal

Forward Arthur Cabral missed a goal at the 23rd minute of the first half, almost under the crossbar, when Botafogo led 1-0 over Cienciano in the Copa Sul-America on 20 August.

Portuguese media reaction

Sports newspapers in Portugal called the miss a “falhanço”, a term meaning to waste a clear scoring chance. “Mais Futebol” and “A Bola” highlighted that Cabral, former Benfica striker (2023-2025), was responsible for Botafogo’s elimination, along with goalkeeper Espinoza, who made six saves.

Consequences for Cabral

Cabral was heavily booed and finished the match being insulted by Botafogo fans. He has not scored since the World Cup and his last goal was on 17 May. The player is suspended for Botafogo’s next match, Monday, against Athletico-PR in the Brasileirão.