Club World Cup: 9-Man PSG Beat Bayern Munich 2-0, Advance To Semi-Final
Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the Club World Cup semi-finals as goals from Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele secured a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in a thrilling encounter on Saturday. The European champions, despite being reduced to nine men with the dismissals of Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez in the closing stages, managed to overcome the German giants in Atlanta.
The Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich lost Jamal Musiala to a severe ankle injury just before half-time, in a match that was intensely contested by both sides. Prior to this defeat, Bayern had won their last four matches against PSG, including a 1-0 win in the Champions League last November, but Luis Enrique's team reached their peak performance in this game.
The match began with a poignant moment as players and the nearly 67,000 spectators observed a minute of silence for Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who tragically died in a car crash on Thursday. This was particularly emotional for PSG, who have five Portuguese players in their squad, including starters Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Nuno Mendes.
Luis Enrique opted to start with Ballon d'Or candidate Dembele on the bench, as he continues his recovery from a quadriceps injury, while Bayern's playmaker Musiala was fit to play following a calf issue.
The clash at FIFA's expanded tournament was highly anticipated, with Bayern coach Vincent Kompany describing it as a 'perfect storm" due to the teams' similar high-pressing, attacking styles. The air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium provided ideal conditions for the game, which featured skilled dribblers and elite goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma and Manuel Neuer.
Georgia international Kvaratskhelia forced Neuer into an excellent close-range stop after Bradley Barcola played a ball to him, and the winger surged inside. Donnarumma was again called into action, reacting swiftly to block Aleksandar Pavlovic's low cross intended for Musiala.
Dayot Upamecano's header from Olise's free-kick was disallowed for offside in first-half stoppage time, and Harry Kane came close for Bayern with a narrowly missed header following Kingsley Coman's fine work.
How Bad Is Jamal Musiala's Injury?
Musiala suffered a gruesome ankle injury before half-time after a collision with Donnarumma, leaving the goalkeeper visibly distraught.
In the second half, Neuer made a sensational save to deny Barcola as he ran through on goal. With 20 minutes remaining, Luis Enrique sent on Dembele to make a difference and avoid extra-time. Dembele nearly succeeded when Neuer's error allowed him to shoot at an empty net, but his effort went just wide.
Doue eventually broke the deadlock after Kane lost possession, allowing PSG to attack in numbers. Doue created space on the edge of the box and scored with a low strike at the near post.
Bayern's hopes of an equaliser were boosted when PSG defender Pacho was sent off for a high tackle on Leon Goretzka after 83 minutes. Kane headed home from an offside position before PSG's substitute Hernandez was dismissed for an elbow.
Dembele hit the crossbar on the break, but finally sealed PSG's victory by scoring after Achraf Hakimi's run and paying tribute to Jota with a video-gaming celebration.
PSG will face either Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals on Wednesday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
First Published:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Shubman Gill's Declaration Act To Land BCCI In Legal Trouble?
Last Updated: Shubman Gill, India's Test captain, wore a Nike vest during the second Test at Edgbaston. Fans are wondering if it's a possible breach of BCCI's contract with Adidas. News18 Shubman Gill drew a lot of 'aura' points for his first-ever declaration gesture as India's Test captain on Saturday (July 5) during the Edgbaston Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, but now, fans on social media are wondering if the moment can land him in trouble with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It happened during the 83rd over of India's second innings. The team seemed determined to bat as long as they could, despite there being just over three sessions left in the match. But as soon as the drinks break was called, Gill appeared in his black Nike vest to beckon Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja back. But there's the issue: the Nike vest! The BCCI is in a contract with Nike's direct competitor, Adidas, until March 2028, which grants the German brand exclusive rights to manufacture kits for men's, women's, and youth teams across formats. Fans are now wondering whether this was a breach of contract. One user said, 'using nike while our brand ambassador is adidas….shame on gill hope bcci takes action👍" Another mentioned, 'Gill's nike picture going viral may not be a good thing for him, not only did he not endorse their jersey sponsor, he went ahead and wore their competitor plastered across his chest😭😭 there might be sanctions and warnings. Yes, it is a HUGE deal." Another user wrote, 'Looks like Shubman Gill just gave Adidas a Rs.250 crore masterclass in 'Just Do It" with Nike! 😂" Adidas paid BCCI ₹ 250 crores for a sponsorship Indian captain walks out to the balcony, wearing not the adidas jersey, but a NIKE T-SHIRT. — Aman (@AmanHasNoName_2) July 6, 2025 BCCI's Adidas partnership began in June 2023, with the Indian team debuting their new Adidas kits during the World Test Championship Finals. The deal is reportedly worth ₹75 lakh per match, with the overall value estimated to be between ₹250 to 300 crore. Gill, meanwhile, has been Nike's brand ambassador for a few months now. It's estimated that the deal runs in several crores. First Published:
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Chris Richards says US team ready to fight in Gold Cup final against Mexico
HOUSTON: Chris Richards has noticed a turnaround in the U.S. team during the CONCACAF Gold Cup, a change from both the end of coach Gregg Berhalter's tenure and the start of Mauricio Pochettino's. "We kind of like to fight, so I think that's something that maybe has been missing from the national team over the last few camps, few months, few years," the defender said ahead of Sunday's final against Mexico. "We didn't come into camp saying that we want to fight, but I think if teams want to bring it to us, then they have something else coming for them. Of course, we want to win games, but sometimes in CONCACAF it's not pretty, so you have to do the dirty things." Mexico is the defending champion and has nine titles to seven for the U.S. and one for Canada. A pro-Mexico crowd is expected at NRG Stadium. Richards said the Americans have bonded during their month together, causing players to defend each other when opponents challenge them. "We love each other as if we're a big family, and if you have siblings you know that if anybody messes with your sibling, well, I guess for lack of a better word, you kind of have to kill them," he said Saturday. "You're allowed to do whatever to your siblings, but nobody from the outside can." Missing many of its regular starters because of injuries, vacation and the Club World Cup, the No. 16 U.S managed five wins over relatively weak opponents and reached its first Gold Cup final since 2021. The meeting with 17th-ranked Mexico will be the last competitive match for both nations before they co-host next year's World Cup along with Canada.
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Real Madrid beats Dortmund 3-2 after 3 stoppage-time goals, plays PSG in Club World Cup semifinals
EAST RUTHERFORD: Kylian Mbappé's spectacular bicycle kick was among three goals in second-half stoppage time, and Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a Club World Cup quarterfinal match Saturday as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois used his fingertips to palm away the potential tying goal on the game's final play. Gonzalo García and Fran García scored in the first 20 minutes as Madrid built a 2-0 lead. Dortmund's Maximilian Beier scored three minutes into stoppage time and Mbappé, who entered in the 67th, restored a two-goal lead with his bicycle kick one minute later. Serhou Guirassy converted a penalty kick in the eighth minute of added time after he was fouled by Dean Huijsen, who received a red card and will miss the semifinals. Courtois used all of the lengthy arm on his 6-foot-7 frame to tip away Marcel Sabitzer's shot just before the final whistle. Madrid advanced to a semifinal match against Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, a day after Chelsea meets Brazilian club Fluminense. On a sunny afternoon with an 86-degree (30-degree Celsius) temperature at the 4 p.m. kickoff, Gonzalo García scored in the 10th minute and Fran García in the 20th.
