Kylian Mbappé’s stunning bicycle kick was pivotal as Real Madrid triumphed over Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a thrilling Club World Cup quarterfinal match on Saturday, setting up a semifinal clash against Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Dortmund’s Maximilian Beier scored just three minutes into stoppage time, raising the stakes for Madrid, but Mbappé, who was subbed in during the 67th minute, quickly responded with his dazzling strike to restore a two-goal advantage. Serhou Guirassy later converted a penalty in the eighth minute of added time after being fouled by Dean Huijsen, who received a red card and will miss the upcoming semifinal.
Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, had a critical moment at the end of the match, using his fingertips to deflect Marcel Sabitzer’s effort that could have leveled the score in the dying moments of the game.
The match began energetically, with Gonzalo García scoring in the 10th minute and Fran García doubling the lead in the 20th. This impressive performance led new manager Xabi Alonso to praise Gonzalo García, a 21-year-old who was given the chance to shine during the match amid Mbappé’s recovery from gastroenteritis. Alonso expressed his satisfaction with García’s contributions, highlighting his timely scoring in critical moments.
The matchup against PSG comes after they secured their place in the semifinals with a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich. The winner of the Madrid-PSG duel will advance to face either Fluminense or Chelsea in the final.
The match drew an impressive attendance of 76,611 at MetLife Stadium, which is also slated to host the World Cup final next year. A moment of silence was observed before kickoff to honor Liverpool’s Diogo Jota and his brother, who tragically lost their lives in a car accident earlier in the week.
This match demonstrated Real Madrid’s resilience and skill under pressure, as they navigate through a thrilling tournament filled with dramatic finishes. As fans anticipate the duel against PSG, the excitement surrounding the Club World Cup continues to build.