Ruthless PSG cruise past Inter Miami 4-0 to reach Club World Cup quarters
ATLANTA, Georgia :Joao Neves scored twice as Paris St Germain swept aside Lionel Messi's Inter Miami 4-0 at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday to secure their place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals with ruthless efficiency.
The French side asserted their dominance within six minutes, with Neves moving unmarked to the far post to power home a precise header from a free kick. Neves doubled PSG's lead in the 39th minute following a well-worked attack involving Bradley Barcola and Fabian Ruiz.
Any hopes of a Miami comeback were extinguished in the first half as Messi and company barely got a look in, and their misery deepened further when Tomas Aviles scored an own goal before Achraf Hakimi added a fourth on the stroke of halftime.
The Champions League winners march on towards the quarter-finals, where they will face the winners of the clash between Flamengo and Bayern Munich.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
PSG rout Messi's Inter Miami 4-0 to reach Club World Cup quarters
ATLANTA, Georgia - Paris Saint-Germain steamrollered Lionel Messi's Inter Miami 4-0 to reach the Club World Cup quarter-finals on June 29 as the European champions proved too strong for a team of ageing stars. Miami hoped the Argentine superstar's magic could help them produce an unlikely result against his former club, but the Major League Soccer side were dismantled in Atlanta by Luis Enrique's rampant team. Messi and his former Barcelona team-mates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba had done well to reach the last 16 but the gulf in quality between the teams was laid bare over the 90 minutes. Joao Neves netted twice for PSG, who benefitted from a Tomas Aviles own goal, while Achraf Hakimi was also on target. After Neves opened the scoring early on Miami resisted until PSG hit three goals in 10 minutes towards the end of the first half. 'We had to play a serious game, the competition is really starting and I think we played well,' PSG winger Ousmane Dembele told reporters on his return from injury. Messi was the main draw, as fans chanted his name and most of the 66,000 crowd were clad in Miami's hot pink interspersed with Argentina shirts. PSG dominated from the start, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia floating into the box and teeing up Bradley Barcola, but Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari thwarted him with an outstretched leg. However shortly afterwards over-run Miami right-back Marcelo Weigandt fouled Desire Doue and it led to PSG's opener. Vitinha whipped a free-kick to the back post where Portuguese midfielder Neves ran in completely unmarked, stooping to nod past Ustari after six minutes. With the Ligue 1 champions pressing high and keeping possession Javier Mascherano's Miami found it hard to get Messi involved. The 38-year-old's intermittent interventions were not enough to hold back the Parisian tide. PSG doubled their lead in the 39th minute when veteran holding midfielder Busquets got his footwork wrong in front of his own box. Spanish compatriot Ruiz rapidly relieved him of the ball and combined with Barcola to set up Neves to tap home his second. Paris Saint-Germain's Portuguese midfielder Joao Pedro Goncalves Neves (centre) celebrates with Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz after scoring their second goal. PHOTO: AFP PSG grabbed their third when Aviles deflected Doue's cross into his own net, and Hakimi netted the fourth before half-time to put PSG out of sight. The Morocco international's first effort was deflected onto the crossbar but he stayed alert at the air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium to fire home the rebound. Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi lost his cool with a swipe aimed at Vitinha as the Argentine raged against the midfielder, Miami's impotence and PSG's swagger. Determined Messi Messi produced a brilliant pass for Suarez early in the second half, chipping a ball over the PSG defence, but the Uruguayan could not finish to offer Miami a lifeline. Willian Pacho of Paris Saint-Germain in action against Luis Suarez (right) of Inter Miami. PHOTO: EPA-EFE Despite the impossibility of a comeback – there was to be no 'remontada' like the one Luis Enrique's Barcelona managed in 2017 against PSG from four goals down in which Messi and Suarez scored – the Argentine was determined to bow out with a bang. Messi drew a first save from PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma after the hour mark with a low effort. Luis Enrique sent on Dembele for his first appearance at the tournament after a hamstring injury, but the Frenchman was rusty and imprecise. When Suarez was fouled by Lucas Beraldo on the edge of the box Messi had the chance to repeat his free-kick winner against Porto in the group stage, but his effort hit the wall. It was not to be for Messi or Miami, but their second-half performance was respectable and the defeat was by a lesser margin than the French side's 5-0 Champions League final thrashing of Inter Milan. 'I think we were above the expectations people had for us (at the tournament), we were the best team in our group, obviously we were facing the best team in the world playing football right now, so it was difficult,' said Alba. 'Despite that in the first half we competed and above all we did in the second, we had more control of the game, more chances, and created more problems for PSG.' PSG will face Bayern Munich or Flamengo in the quarter-finals in Atlanta on July 5. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Chelsea agree deal to sign Pedro from Brighton, British media report
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Leicester City - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - April 12, 2025 Brighton & Hove Albion's Joao Pedro celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra/File Photo REUTERS Chelsea agree deal to sign Pedro from Brighton, British media report Chelsea have agreed a deal worth 60 million pounds ($82.27 million) to sign Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro, British media outlets reported on Sunday. The BBC and Sky Sports reported Pedro was set to sign a seven-year contract. The 23-year-old Brazilian joined Brighton from Watford in 2023 and scored 30 goals and provided 10 assists in 70 appearances during his two-year spell at the club. Pedro could make his debut in Friday's Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras in Philadelphia. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Luis Enrique eyes historic PSG season as they reach Club World Cup quarters
Paris St Germain manager Luis Enrique said his team were making history after they brushed aside Inter Miami 4-0 in the Club World Cup last 16 on Sunday. The French side, who have already won their domestic league, the French Cup and the Champions League, are edging closer to completing a perfect season by lifting the Club World Cup. "This is clearly a historic season for our club, and we intend to continue making history in this competition," former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique told reporters. The reunion with ex-Barcelona players Lionel Messi and Miami coach Javier Mascherano – both central figures during Luis Enrique's Camp Nou tenure between 2014 and 2017 – added emotional weight to what was otherwise a clinical dismantling of the MLS side. "It was a very special game because I met people who are very important to me, people with whom we shared successes and failures," the 55-year-old Spaniard said. When asked if he would like to coach Messi in Europe again, he said it was a question for the Argentine. "We have all seen his qualities as a player, and he still has them. It's very difficult to play against this kind of player. It was hard, but I believe that as a team we did a really great job." PSG's ruthless first-half display effectively settled matters before Miami found their footing after the interval. "I think that's the first half where we really dominated the game. We didn't concede a single chance, but then in the second half, maybe because of the results, Inter Miami created more chances and got us into trouble," he added. With Flamengo or Bayern Munich awaiting in the quarter-finals, Luis Enrique pivoted back to the task at hand. "We have to stay focused," he insisted. "Holidays and next season are not things I'm interested in right now. We have to think about recuperating and preparing for the game in the best possible conditions." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
