Real Madrid Hold Off Late Dortmund Rally to Reach Club World Cup Semis

Real Madrid Edge Dortmund in Thrilling Club World Cup Encounter

Real Madrid advanced to the semi-finals of the Club World Cup with a narrow 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. The match, held at MetLife Stadium, saw the Spanish side build an early lead before withstanding a dramatic late push from the German outfit.

The win sets up a high-profile semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, who defeated Bayern Munich in their own quarter-final clash.

Early Dominance Puts Madrid in Control

Real Madrid started the match with intensity and precision. Gonzalo, continuing his breakout tournament, netted the opener in the 10th minute with a sharp volley from Arda Guler’s well-placed cross.

Fran Garcia doubled the lead just ten minutes later, capitalizing on a low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold after a swift attack down the right flank. Madrid looked poised to seal the game early, with Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. both missing opportunities to extend the margin before halftime.

Late Drama in New Jersey Heat

The second half saw Real Madrid continue to control possession, with Aurelien Tchouameni striking the crossbar from distance. However, fatigue seemed to set in, and the tempo slowed in the sweltering conditions.

The match erupted in added time when Dortmund substitute Maximilian Beier scored in the 93rd minute. But Real Madrid quickly responded, with Kylian Mbappe restoring their two-goal cushion just a minute later through a sublime volley.

Dortmund kept fighting. Serhou Guirassy was brought down in the box by Dean Huijsen, who received a straight red card, ruling him out of the semi-final. Guirassy converted the penalty, bringing the score to 3-2.

Courtois Secures Victory with Last-Minute Heroics

Dortmund nearly equalized in the dying seconds, but Thibaut Courtois produced a crucial save to deny Marcel Sabitzer and secure Madrid’s progression.

Manager Xabi Alonso admitted his team lost focus in the final minutes, saying, “We were in control for 80 minutes, but we need to manage those final moments better.”

Real Madrid to Face PSG in Semi-Final Clash

Real Madrid now look ahead to a highly anticipated semi-final against PSG. The winner will go on to face either Fluminense or Chelsea, who play their quarter-final on Tuesday.

With star power on both sides, the clash between Madrid and PSG promises to be one of the highlights of the tournament.