PSG BEAT BAYERN 2-0 TO REACH CLUB WORLD CLUB SEMIFINALS AS MUSIALA SUFFERS HORROR INJURY

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By: Sefiu Ajape

Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Bayern Munich on Saturday, thanks to goals from Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé.

The intense clash in Atlanta saw the French champions reduced to nine men after Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez were both sent off late in the game. Despite the numerical disadvantage, PSG held firm to eliminate the German giants.

Bayern, who had beaten PSG in their last four encounters—including a 1-0 win in the Champions League last November—saw their momentum halted in a match that featured several emotional and dramatic moments.

Jamal Musiala suffered a gruesome ankle injury just before halftime, adding to Bayern’s woes. Prior to kickoff, nearly 67,000 spectators and both teams observed a minute of silence in honour of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, who tragically died in a car accident on Thursday. The tribute was especially moving for PSG, who had five Portuguese players in their squad, including starters Vitinha, João Neves, and Nuno Mendes.

On the field, the match was fiercely contested. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia came close for PSG, striking the side netting after a rapid counterattack. Bayern’s Michael Olise tested Gianluigi Donnarumma with a curling effort, and the Italian goalkeeper later denied Aleksandar Pavlović’s dangerous cross and Dayot Upamecano’s header — the latter ruled out for offside.

Harry Kane also narrowly missed with a header after good work by Kingsley Coman, but Bayern were ultimately unable to break down the Parisians.

Luis Enrique’s side now look ahead to the semi-finals, having survived a gripping battle against one of Europe’s elite.

– 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 the French winger ran through on goal and tried to bend the ball into the far corner.

With 20 minutes remaining, Luis Enrique sent on Dembele to try and make the difference and avoid extra-time, which neither side needed at the end of a gruelling season.

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, worked 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.

Dembele hit the crossbar on the break as Luis Enrique’s side clung on before sealing their victory through the French forward, who tucked home after Achraf Hakimi’s run through and paid tribute to Jota by copying his video-gaming celebration.

PSG will face Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals on Wednesday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.