Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters
Real Madrid defeats Dortmund 3-2, moves on to Club World Cup semi-final
Real Madrid set up a date with PSG in the Club World Cup semi-final after a 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund. Xabi Alonso’s side looked entirely in control for the vast majority of the match, until a chaotic final 10 minutes of stoppage time made things nervy and Thibaut Courtois’ last-minute save preserved the victory.
That incredible conclusion also included a late red card given to Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen, the impressive new arrival in central defense who will miss the semi-final as a result of bringing down Serhou Guirassy right after Kylian Mbappé scored a stupendous volley for Real Madrid’s third.
Real Madrid dominated most of the match, with striker Gonzalo García opening the scoring for his impressive fourth goal of the tournament and left back Fran García (no relation) adding the second – his first goal in 52 appearances.
Mbappé will now have the chance to face PSG, his former team, for the first time on 8 July.
Final: Real Madrid 3-2 Borussia Dortmund
What a crazy ending that was. Three goals, a red card, a penalty, and some game-saving goalkeeping all came in stoppage time. But Real Madrid hangs on after dominating just about all of the previous 90 minutes. They’ll now face PSG in the Club World Cup semi-final, giving Kylian Mbappé his first crack at his former club.
Real Madrid will be without defender Dean Huijsen, though, thanks to that late red card.
Regardless, it’s time for Los Merengues to celebrate. They’re in the final four.
