Real Madrid cling on to reach FIFA Club World Cup last four
Gonzalo Garcia and Fran Garcia struck first-half goals at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium and the 15-time UEFA Champions League winners were cruising before Maximilian Beier pulled one back early in second-half stoppage time.
Kylian Mbappe appeared to settle Madrid's nerves a minute later by volleying home his first goal of the tournament.
Serhou Guirassy reduced the deficit again by converting from the penalty spot after he was dragged down by Dean Huijsen, an offense that earned the Spain international a straight red card.
The Spanish side held on to set up a clash with Paris Saint-Germain at the same venue next Wednesday for a place in the final.
Both sides showed attacking intent early and Gonzalo Garcia should have done better when he fluffed his attempt at a first-time strike following Fran Garcia's cross at the far post.
At the other end, Julian Brandt headed wide after winning an aerial duel with Huijsen.
Gonzalo made up for his earlier miss by giving Madrid the lead in the 10th minute, volleying in from the edge of the six-yard box after Arda Guler's lifted pass. It was his fourth goal in five games in the United States to go along with an assist.
Both Garcias were causing problems for Dortmund's defense, and Fran doubled the lead by timing his run to perfection and side-footing home after Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross from the right.
Madrid continued to press, and the German side was fortunate not to fall further behind before halftime.
Jude Bellingham dragged a shot wide after a barnstorming run and the England midfielder then set up Vinicius Junior, who shot straight at Gregor Kobel with only the Swiss goalkeeper to beat.
The tempo dipped after the break as both sides struggled to find openings in their attacking halves.
Beier created a chance just after the hour when he cut inside and forced a diving save from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at the near post.
France international Aurelien Tchouameni then curled a shot from distance that rebounded off the crossbar.
Madrid looked eager to put the match away in stoppage time. Federico Valverde was denied from close range by Kobel and then Guler fired wide from outside the penalty area.
But Beier ensured a tense finish by pouncing on a loose ball and firing low into the far corner in the 93rd minute.
Real Madrid responded almost immediately and Mbappe, who missed the group stage due to illness, opened his account in the tournament with an acrobatic overhead volley after Guler's cross.
The Bundesliga side refused to surrender and Madrid suffered a double blow a minute later when Huijsen was dismissed for clattering into Guirassy. The Guinea international converted the resultant spot-kick to keep his team alive.
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Times of Oman
a day ago
- Times of Oman
Real Madrid, PSG book FIFA Club World Cup semifinal spots
New York: Real Madrid will face Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup semifinals after both sides claimed quarterfinal victories on Saturday. In New Jersey, Real Madrid survived a late scare to secure a 3-2 win over a fast-finishing Borussia Dortmund while Paris Saint-Germain overcame Bayern Munich 2-0 in Atlanta. Fifteen-time UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid looked to be cruising as they entered second-half stoppage time with a 2-0 lead courtesy of first-half goals from Gonzalo Garcia and Fran Garcia at MetLife Stadium. Maximilian Beier pulled one back in the 93rd minute before Kylian Mbappe appeared to settle Madrid's nerves a minute later by volleying home his first goal of the tournament. But Serhou Guirassy reduced the deficit again by converting from the penalty spot after he was dragged down by Dean Huijsen, an offense that earned the Spain international defender a straight red card. The Spanish side held on to set up a duel with PSG at the same venue next Wednesday for a place in the final. "Everything was under control but the last 10 minutes were kind of crazy," Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso said after the match. "We lost a little bit of our shape, our intensity and luckily we managed to hold on. Overall, it was a good eighty minutes but the last 10 minutes showed we need to improve." Alonso hailed the impact of Gonzalo Garcia, who has four goals in five games this tournament, as well as an assist. "He is doing great work for the team," the former Spain midfielder said. "He is helping the team and he is running into the right positions in the box. He is a proper No. 9, and we are happy that he is doing that work." Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac said his team paid the price for a poor start. "I don't think we played well in the first half," the former Croatia midfielder said. "We were too passive, just waiting and not aggressive enough. It was a bit better after the break." He reserved special praise for Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who denied Marcel Sabitzer an equalizer in the final seconds. "That final save was unbelievable," Kovac said. "I really thought that shot would go in but this is a world-class goalkeeper. We lost the game in the first half, not the second." Earlier, late goals from Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele gave nine-man Paris Saint-Germain victory over Bayern Munich. The result was overshadowed by a serious ankle injury suffered by Bayern midfielder Jamal Musiala in a collision with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma just before halftime. Doue put the European champions ahead in the 78th minute with a long-range effort that beat goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at his near post. The Parisian side was then reduced to nine men after Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez were both shown straight red cards within 10 minutes. Despite the double setback, Dembele swept home PSG's second goal in stoppage time following Achraf Hakimi's cross. "It's always difficult to play against a great team like Bayern Munich," PSG manager Luis Enrique told a post-match news conference. "And thinking about the last part of the match where we played with one man less and then two, it was very difficult. "We have to recover and focus on the semifinal. In this very long season, to come here with that attitude that we see from the team in each training session and each game, I think we deserve to be here. I also think our fans deserve to see this. I hope we'll keep improving and be able to play another final. That's our goal." Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany said the final scoreline did not accurately reflect the match. "We weren't rewarded for a performance that was exactly what was required against PSG," he said. "That's a shame. I knew it would be a close game. It could've finished 1-0 or 2-0 to us or them. That's how it turned out. It was a game with high intensity and high quality. "Tomorrow we fly home and have three weeks off. It's important that the boys can also mentally switch off a bit now. We need to regain our strength for next season." Kompany said the club's thoughts were with Musiala and wished the German international a prompt recovery. "I've rarely been so angry at halftime, not against my players - I know there are much more important things in life, but for these guys it's their life," the former Belgium international defender said. "Someone like Jamal lives for this. He just came back from a setback, and now this happens. You feel powerless. My blood is still boiling right now, not because of the result, that's football. But because it happened to someone who enjoys the game so much."
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Times of Oman
Real Madrid cling on to reach FIFA Club World Cup last four
NEW YORK -- Real Madrid survived a late scare to reach the FIFA Club World Cup semifinals on Saturday with a dramatic 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund. Gonzalo Garcia and Fran Garcia struck first-half goals at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium and the 15-time UEFA Champions League winners were cruising before Maximilian Beier pulled one back early in second-half stoppage time. Kylian Mbappe appeared to settle Madrid's nerves a minute later by volleying home his first goal of the tournament. Serhou Guirassy reduced the deficit again by converting from the penalty spot after he was dragged down by Dean Huijsen, an offense that earned the Spain international a straight red card. The Spanish side held on to set up a clash with Paris Saint-Germain at the same venue next Wednesday for a place in the final. Both sides showed attacking intent early and Gonzalo Garcia should have done better when he fluffed his attempt at a first-time strike following Fran Garcia's cross at the far post. At the other end, Julian Brandt headed wide after winning an aerial duel with Huijsen. Gonzalo made up for his earlier miss by giving Madrid the lead in the 10th minute, volleying in from the edge of the six-yard box after Arda Guler's lifted pass. It was his fourth goal in five games in the United States to go along with an assist. Both Garcias were causing problems for Dortmund's defense, and Fran doubled the lead by timing his run to perfection and side-footing home after Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross from the right. Madrid continued to press, and the German side was fortunate not to fall further behind before halftime. Jude Bellingham dragged a shot wide after a barnstorming run and the England midfielder then set up Vinicius Junior, who shot straight at Gregor Kobel with only the Swiss goalkeeper to beat. The tempo dipped after the break as both sides struggled to find openings in their attacking halves. Beier created a chance just after the hour when he cut inside and forced a diving save from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at the near post. France international Aurelien Tchouameni then curled a shot from distance that rebounded off the crossbar. Madrid looked eager to put the match away in stoppage time. Federico Valverde was denied from close range by Kobel and then Guler fired wide from outside the penalty area. But Beier ensured a tense finish by pouncing on a loose ball and firing low into the far corner in the 93rd minute. Real Madrid responded almost immediately and Mbappe, who missed the group stage due to illness, opened his account in the tournament with an acrobatic overhead volley after Guler's cross. The Bundesliga side refused to surrender and Madrid suffered a double blow a minute later when Huijsen was dismissed for clattering into Guirassy. The Guinea international converted the resultant spot-kick to keep his team alive.
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Times of Oman
Palmeiras own goal sends Chelsea to Club World Cup semis
PHILADELPHIA: Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton scored a late own goal as Chelsea edged the Brazilian side 2-1 on Friday to reach the FIFA Club World Cup semifinals. Cole Palmer gave Chelsea the lead in the quarterfinal with a 16th-minute strike before teenager Estevao, who is set to join the Premier League club later this month, equalized from an acute angle shortly after halftime. The decisive moment came seven minutes from time, when a deflection off Weverton sent the ball into his own net as Chelsea set up a clash with Fluminense next Tuesday for a place in the final. Still searching for his first goal in the tournament, Palmer showed his intent early, forcing a diving save from Weverton with a low effort to the near post. The England international finally opened his account here by turning superbly as he received Trevoh Chalobah's pass before advancing into the box and placing a low shot into the bottom-left corner. Chelsea continued to threaten as it pressed for a second, with Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez testing Weverton during a sustained spell of pressure. Christopher Nkunku had a clear chance to double the lead but blasted a hurried shot over the bar when he had time to compose himself. Palmeiras began to find rhythm late in the first half as Estevao grew in confidence down the right flank. Vanderlan should have leveled for the Sao Paulo-based club when Agustin Giay found him unmarked at the far post, only for the left-back to send a tame header straight at Robert Sanchez. Palmeiras showed greater intensity after halftime and Estevao was at the heart of the team's most dangerous moves, offering Chelsea an early preview of his talent ahead of his move to London. The 18-year-old winger's curling free-kick shortly after the restart was perfectly weighted for Bruno Fuchs, who failed to direct his header on target. Estevao equalized in the 53rd minute with a contender for goal of the tournament. The Brazil international ran onto Richard Rios' pass and dribbled past Levi Colwill before beating Sanchez with a powerful effort from a tight angle that rebounded in off the woodwork. Palmeiras seized the momentum and Allan dragged a low shot wide before Mauricio's cross from the left was cut out just in time by Colwill with Roque poised to tap in. But Chelsea found a response at the crucial moment, helped by a touch of fortune. Malo Gusto's cross from the left side of the penalty area rebounded off Giay before taking another deflection off Weverton and flying into the far corner. Paulinho had a chance to equalize shortly after when he somehow squeezed a shot between a maze of defenders that rolled just wide of the far post.
