Borussia Dortmund edge past Monterrey in tense 2-1 victory to set up quarter-final with Real Madrid
Borussia Dortmund are into the quarter-final of the FIFA Club World Cup thanks to a 2-1 victory against Monterrey in Atlanta.
It took Borussia Dortmund just 14 minutes to open the scoring in Atlanta, with Karim Adeyemi slipping a neat ball in behind for Serhou Guirassy who slotted expertly past Esteban Andrada.
Monterrey came close to finding the equaliser just three minutes later when Jesus Corona’s mishit cross from the left-hand side rattled off the near post.
Niko Kovac’s side doubled their advantage after 24 minutes, and it was the same two players combining again. Adeyemi did brilliantly down the right-hand side, holding up the ball and waiting for support, then finding Guirassy, who rifled home his second goal of the match.
Jobe Bellingham received a yellow card on the half hour mark, his second at the FIFA Club World Cup and thus denying him the opportunity to play against his brother Jude when Borussia Dortmund take on Real Madrid on Saturday.
Monterrey had a huge chance to pull one back three minutes from the break when Jesus Corona latched onto Andrada’s long pass before firing an effort on goal but Gregor Kobel stood firm to make a brilliant save at the near post.
Monterrey made the perfect start to the second period, with German Berterame popping up to head home past Kobel just three minutes into the half.
Jesus Corona had a golden opportunity to level the match on the hour mark when he was released to go through on goal with just Kobel to beat but the Mexican could only hit his effort straight down the middle and Kobel was able to make the save.
Monterrey continued to push forward in search of a goal but to no avail, with the Bundesliga side holding on and sealing their passage to the quarter-final of the FIFA Club World Cup, where they will take on Real Madrid in New York.
