PSG Beat Bayern 2-0 to Reach Club World Cup Semi-Finals
The French treble winners had Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez sent off in the final stages but managed to oust the German giants in Atlanta.
Bundesliga champions Bayern, who lost Jamal Musiala just before half-time with a horror ankle injury, shared an intense and even battle with the Parisians and had two goals ruled out for offside.
Bayern had won their last four matches straight against PSG, including a 1-0 Champions League victory last November, before Luis Enrique's side hit their peak.
'I think we showed our character with two less players, we showed our personality, and we are strong also like that,' PSG's Achraf Hakimi told reporters.
'We showed that we want to be continue in this competition and go forward.'
Players and nearly 67,000 spectators observed a minute of silence in honour of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who tragically died in a car crash on Thursday.
It was an emotional moment, especially for a PSG side with five Portuguese players in the squad, including starters Vitinha, Joao Neves and Nuno Mendes.
Luis Enrique began with leading Ballon d'Or candidate Dembele on the bench, as he continues his comeback from a quadriceps injury, but Bayern playmaker Musiala was fit to start.
It was FIFA's expanded tournament's biggest heavyweight clash thus far and Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said on the eve of the game he would pay to watch a match he described as a 'perfect storm', because of the teams' similar high-pressing, attacking styles.
The air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium also produced the perfect conditions for a pulsating game, lit up by supremely talented dribblers on both sides, as well as two elite goalkeepers in Gianluigi Donnarumma and Manuel Neuer.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hit the side netting after a razor-sharp PSG counter and forced Neuer into an excelent save, while Donnarumma saved twice from Olise.
Dayot Upamecano headed home from Olise's free-kick in first-half stoppage time but the defender had strayed offside and it was disallowed, while England captain Harry Kane sent a header off-target when well placed.
- Musiala horror injury -
Unfortunately Musiala suffered a gruesome ankle injury before half-time as he fell following a collision with Donnarumma, with the goalkeeper appearing distraught in the aftermath.
Bayern's 39-year-old stopper Neuer produced a sensational save to deny Barcola early in the second half as PSG threatened.
With 20 minutes remaining, Luis Enrique sent on Dembele to make the difference and avoid extra-time.
Dembele came inches from doing just that when Neuer gave the ball away outside his area and the Frenchman lunged to try and roll into the empty net, but it trickled just wide of the post.
Eventually 20-year-old Doue found the breakthrough as Kane gave the ball away and PSG attacked in numbers.
Doue, who burst into the limelight in PSG's run to Champions League glory, fashioned some space on the edge of the box and flashed a low strike home at the near post.
Bayern were given hope as they hunted for an equaliser when PSG defender Pacho was sent off for a high tackle on Leon Goretzka after 83 minutes.
Kane headed home from an offside position before PSG substitute Hernandez was dismissed for an elbow.
Despite their numerical disadvantage Dembele hit the crossbar before sealing their victory after Achraf Hakimi's run through, and the Frenchman paid tribute to Jota by copying his video-gaming celebration.
'It was very difficult to hear the news,' Marquinhos told DAZN.
'We have got Portuguese players in the dressing room and they were with him only a few weeks ago playing in the Nations League... we wanted to cheer them up.'
Bayern coach Kompany said he was proud of his team's performance despite their elimination.
'It could have been 2-0 to us, but it didn't go our way,' said Kompany.
'In the first half we showed them who we are and they had problems with us,' said Bayern substitute Thomas Mueller, who played his last game for the club.
PSG will face Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals on Wednesday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Rodri will not make Manchester City return till September
MANCHESTER City midfielder Rodri will not be at full fitness until after September's international break, Pep Guardiola has revealed. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner missed most of last season due to ligament damage and without him City failed to mount a strong defence of their Premier League crown. The 29-year-old Spanish international fought his way back to fitness but suffered a groin injury in City's defeat to Saudi club Al-Hilal at the Club World Cup in the United States last month. 'Rodri's getting better but he had a big injury in the last game against Al-Hilal and for the last five or six weeks,' Guardiola said in comments released on Saturday. 'He's training right now and in the last two or three days is better. Hopefully maybe the international break is when he will be really, really fit. 'Hopefully, in the games (prior to that) he can play some minutes but the important thing is to not have pain because we don't want him to be come back and injured, come back and injured. 'We will try desperately to avoid that but he's training the last two or three days with us and that's good.' The City staff are also nursing Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic back to fitness and both players joined Rodri in being left out of a pre-season game in Sicily this week. City face Wolves in their first Premier League game of the season next weekend and then play Tottenham and Brighton before the September internationals. - AFP
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Sesko completes Manchester United's new-look forward line-up
MANCHESTER United signed Slovenian international Benjamin Sesko on Saturday, making him the third forward the 20-time English champions have acquired in the close season. The 22-year-old's arrival from RB Leipzig, in a deal reported to be worth up to £74 million (85 million euros, $99 million), completes an overhaul of the Red Devils' attack that failed to fire last season. Only four other teams scored fewer than United's 44 goals in 38 Premier League games last season as the English giants endured their worst campaign for 51 years, finishing 15th in the table. Sesko, who has scored 16 goals in 41 international appearances, is United's third major attacking signing following the recruitment of Matheus Cunha for £62.5m from Wolves and Bryan Mbeumo, who joined from Brentford for £65m with £6m in add-ons. 'Manchester United is pleased to confirm that Benjamin Sesko has joined the club, subject to registration,' read a club statement. The five-year contract includes a guaranteed payment of £66.3million, with the remainder in add-ons, according to reports. 'The history of Manchester United is obviously very special but what really excites me is the future,' said Sesko. 'When we discussed the project, it was clear that everything is in place for this team to continue to grow and compete for the biggest trophies again soon.' Sesko had also been linked with Newcastle, but once again Eddie Howe's League Cup winners failed to land their target despite being able to offer European football this season, unlike Manchester United. Howe had seen Sesko as a ready-made replacement for unhappy Swedish striker Alexander Isak, who has been a target for champions Liverpool. - 'Exceptional young talents' - Sesko, though, said he felt a vibrancy at United as they seek to rebound from a desperately disappointing 2024-2025 campaign under 40-year-old Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim. 'From the moment that I arrived, I could feel the positive energy and family environment that the club has created,' he said. 'It is clearly the perfect place to reach my maximum level and fulfil all of my ambitions. 'I cannot wait to start learning from Ruben and connecting with my team-mates to achieve the success that we all know we are capable of together.' Sesko had also previously been linked with Arsenal after impressing during his two-year spell in Germany, where he scored 39 times in 87 appearances for Leipzig, including 21 goals last season. Standing 1.95 metres (6ft 4ins) tall, Sesko's towering physique, electric pace and eye for goal have earned comparisons with Manchester City's Erling Haaland. Like Haaland, he also made his name at RB Salzburg before moving to Germany in 2023. United are banking on Sesko realising his abundant potential to fire them back into contention at the top of the Premier League table. Between them, Sesko, Cunha and Mbeumo combined for 58 goals last season. The massive outlay on their arrivals needs to bear fruit quickly with United under pressure to meet financial sustainability rules, especially without the revenue of European football this season. Sesko's arrival is likely to presage the departure of Rasmus Hojlund, whose plight might provide a salutary tale for the Slovenian. The 23-year-old Danish forward arrived with similarly high hopes but has failed to deliver and is reportedly subject to interest from Serie A side AC Milan. Sesko though has convinced United's director of football Jason Wilcox that he has the attributes to help propel United back into title contention. 'Benjamin possesses a rare combination of electrifying pace and the ability to physically dominate defenders, making him one of the most exceptional young talents in world football,' said Wilcox. 'We have followed Benjamin's career closely; all of our data analysis and research concluded that he has the required qualities and personality to thrive at Manchester United.' - AFP
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Sesko completes Manchester United's new-look forward line-up
LONDON: Manchester United signed Slovenian international Benjamin Sesko on Saturday, making him the third forward the 20-time English champions have acquired in the close season. The 22-year-old's arrival from RB Leipzig, in a deal reported to be worth up to £74 million, completes an overhaul of the Red Devils' attack that failed to fire last season. Only four other teams scored fewer than United's 44 goals in 38 Premier League games last season as the English giants endured their worst campaign for 51 years, finishing 15th in the table. Sesko, who has scored 16 goals in 41 international appearances, is United's third major attacking signing following the recruitment of Matheus Cunha for £62.5m from Wolves and Bryan Mbeumo, who joined from Brentford for £65m with £6m in add-ons. "Manchester United is pleased to confirm that Benjamin Sesko has joined the club, subject to registration," read a club statement. The five-year contract includes a guaranteed payment of £66.3million, with the remainder in add-ons, according to reports. "The history of Manchester United is obviously very special but what really excites me is the future," said Sesko. "When we discussed the project, it was clear that everything is in place for this team to continue to grow and compete for the biggest trophies again soon." Sesko had also been linked with Newcastle, but once again Eddie Howe's League Cup winners failed to land their target despite being able to offer European football this season, unlike Manchester United. Howe had seen Sesko as a ready-made replacement for unhappy Swedish striker Alexander Isak, who has been a target for champions Liverpool. Sesko, though, said he felt a vibrancy at United as they seek to rebound from a desperately disappointing 2024-2025 campaign under 40-year-old Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim. "From the moment that I arrived, I could feel the positive energy and family environment that the club has created," he said. "It is clearly the perfect place to reach my maximum level and fulfil all of my ambitions. "I cannot wait to start learning from Ruben and connecting with my team-mates to achieve the success that we all know we are capable of together." Sesko had also previously been linked with Arsenal after impressing during his two-year spell in Germany, where he scored 39 times in 87 appearances for Leipzig, including 21 goals last season. Standing 1.95 metres tall, Sesko's towering physique, electric pace and eye for goal have earned comparisons with Manchester City's Erling Haaland. Like Haaland, he also made his name at RB Salzburg before moving to Germany in 2023. United are banking on Sesko realising his abundant potential to fire them back into contention at the top of the Premier League table. Between them, Sesko, Cunha and Mbeumo combined for 58 goals last season. The massive outlay on their arrivals needs to bear fruit quickly with United under pressure to meet financial sustainability rules, especially without the revenue of European football this season. Sesko's arrival is likely to presage the departure of Rasmus Hojlund, whose plight might provide a salutary tale for the Slovenian. The 23-year-old Danish forward arrived with similarly high hopes but has failed to deliver and is reportedly subject to interest from Serie A side AC Milan. Sesko though has convinced United's director of football Jason Wilcox that he has the attributes to help propel United back into title contention. "Benjamin possesses a rare combination of electrifying pace and the ability to physically dominate defenders, making him one of the most exceptional young talents in world football," said Wilcox. "We have followed Benjamin's career closely; all of our data analysis and research concluded that he has the required qualities and personality to thrive at Manchester United." - AFP
