By Samuel Akpan with agency report
Paris Saint-Germain secured a spot in the semifinals of the Club World Cup with a dramatic 2-0 win over Bayern Munich, despite being reduced to nine men after Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez were both sent off in the dying embers of the game.
Despite being under pressure for most of the game, PSG’s counter-attacking strategy paid off, with Desire Doue scoring the opening goal in the 76th minute.
Doue’s low, powerful shot completely wrong-footed Manuel Neuer, finding the back of the net.
The match was intense, with Bayern dominating possession and creating scoring opportunities, but PSG’s defense held strong.
Bayern’s failure to capitalize on their chances ultimately cost them the game.
Kingsley Coman and Michael Olise were excellent on the wings for Bayern, while Jamal Musiala did his work through the middle before being substituted due to a horror injury.
The game’s drama wasn’t over after Doue’s goal. Bayern pushed hard for an equalizer, but PSG’s defense held strong.
However, Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez were shown straight red cards for serious fouls, throwing Bayern a lifeline.
PSG scored again through Ousmane Dembele, who finished off a counter-attack after Achraf Hakimi’s lightning fast foot left three Bayern defenders rooted to the grass creating pockets of space for Dembele to receive the pass and calmly slooting the ball pass Manuel Neuer.
PSG’s counter-attacking prowess was on full throttle the whole game, and this has been a hallmark of their success this season.
They have had 93 shots from counter-attacks in 2024-25, more than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues.
PSG will now face a tough opponent in the semifinals, but their counter-attacking style will make them a formidable opponent for any team.
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