Borussia Dortmund's journey at the FIFA Club World Cup has come to an end after a heart-stopping 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. The match, played in front of 76,611 fans at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, was a rollercoaster of emotions, especially in the dying minutes.
Real Madrid Clinches Victory in Dramatic Fashion
Real Madrid took an early lead with goals from Gonzalo Garcia (10th minute) and Fran Garcia (20th minute). Dortmund struggled to break down the Real Madrid defence in the first half, despite maintaining possession. The second half saw a more determined BVB side, but they couldn't find a breakthrough until the final moments.
Late Drama Unfolds
The real drama began in added time. Maximilian Beier pulled one back for Dortmund in the 92nd minute, sparking hope for a comeback. However, Kylian Mbappe quickly restored Real Madrid's two-goal advantage just two minutes later. Serhou Guirassy then converted a penalty in the 98th minute, setting up a grandstand finish. Marcel Sabitzer almost equalized with a powerful shot, but Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a crucial save. Real Madrid's Dean Huijsen was also sent off with a red card in the dying moments, adding to the chaos.
Despite the loss, Borussia Dortmund can be proud of their performance in reaching the quarter-finals of the expanded 32-team tournament. They showed resilience and fighting spirit, even in defeat.
Match Highlights:
- Real Madrid's Gonzalo Garcia and Fran Garcia score early goals.
- Maximilian Beier and Serhou Guirassy score late for Dortmund.
- Kylian Mbappe extends Real Madrid's lead in added time.
- Dean Huijsen receives a red card.
- Thibaut Courtois makes a crucial save to deny Sabitzer's equalizer.
Dortmund's starting lineup included Kobel, Süle, Anton, Bensebaini, Ryerson, Groß, Sabitzer, Svensson, Brandt, Adeyemi, and Guirassy. Real Madrid fielded Courtois, Rüdiger, Tchouameni, Huijsen, Fede Valverde, Alexander-Arnold, Bellingham, Arda Güler, Fran Garcia, Garcia, and Vinicius Junior.