Real Madrid edged past Borussia Dortmund with a dramatic 3-2 win in the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday. Kylian Mbappe’s spectacular bicycle kick in stoppage time proved decisive in an electrifying match that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The match kicked off under a blazing sun, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius. Real Madrid took control early, with Gonzalo Garcia opening the scoring in the 10th minute. Just ten minutes later, Fran García doubled the lead, putting Madrid comfortably ahead.
Borussia Dortmund, however, refused to back down. Maximilian Beier reignited their hopes by scoring three minutes into stoppage time, bringing the score to 2-1. The excitement didn’t end there. A minute later, Mbappe, who had entered the game in the 67th minute, executed a breathtaking bicycle kick, restoring Madrid’s two-goal cushion.
The drama intensified when Serhou Guirassy was fouled by Dean Huijsen in the eighth minute of added time. Guirassy confidently converted the penalty, and Huijsen was shown a red card, meaning he will miss the semifinals.
In the dying moments, Dortmund nearly leveled the match. Marcel Sabitzer unleashed a powerful shot, but Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a phenomenal fingertip save, securing the victory for his team.
With this win, Real Madrid advanced to the semifinals, where they will face UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. The stage is set for a clash of titans as both teams vie for a place in the finals.
In another quarterfinal match, PSG secured a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich. Desire Doue broke the deadlock in the 78th minute, and Ousmane Dembele added an insurance goal in stoppage time. The match was not without controversy, as PSG had two players sent off with red cards in the closing stages.
The football world now eagerly awaits the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup, with anticipation building for more thrilling action on the pitch.
