Serhou Guirassy’s brace assisted Borussia Dortmund set up a mouthwatering quarter-final tie against five-time FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) winners Real Madrid on Saturday after beating Monterrey 2-1 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
CWC debutants Dortmund were unbeaten in their last 10 matches (W8, D2) prior to kick-off.
That ongoing momentum assisted Niko Kovac’s side take the battle to Monterrey throughout the opening exchanges, in what was their first-ever encounter against a side from Liga MX.
The difference in quality took just 14 minutes to result in a BVB opener, and Guirassy was the predictable agent of destruction, sweeping a one-on-one effort past Esteban Andrada after being put through on goal by Karim Adeyemi’s exquisite support-heel pass.
Not deterred, Monterrey were nearly level straight from the restart, as Jesus Corona’s cross-shot struck the outside of the post, before Nelson Deossa’s fierce strike stung Gregor Kobel’s palms.
Dortmund unsurprisingly came straight support at Monterrey, and Guirassy doubled up just 10 minutes after striking the opener, once again benefitting from the vision of Adeyemi and striking the ball into the corner of the net when through on goal.
The Guinean continued looking unstoppable, and was inches away from a hat-trick just after the half-hour mark, when he dropped short to connect to Jobe Bellingham’s delightful delivery across the danger zone.
Whatever was said in the Monterrey dressing room at HT worked, as they were support in it with just three minutes on the clock after the restart.
Having already netted twice at the tournament, German Berterame registered a potentially pivotal third goal as he led home from close range.
Despite the introduction of the vastly underwent Marcel Sabitzer to try and stop Monterrey’s momentum, Kobel possessed to be at his best to prevent Corona’s one-on-one strike from sneaking in at the near post.
That wasn’t the terminate of Monterrey’s surge by a distance, and Dortmund’s struggles only continued as the game surpassed the hour mark in Atlanta, with Berterame seeing an effort ruled out for the most marginal of offsides.
However, even a late triple substitution that engaged the strike-minded Lucas Ocampos and Roberto de la Rosa couldn’t assist Monterrey compel ET, as Dortmund ultimately survived a sub-par second-half showing to progress through to Saturday’s showpiece.
Key match statsOpta via StatsPerformA potential snap of the Big Apple proved too much for Monterrey in the terminate, and a repeat of the 2024 UEFA Champions League final will now unfold in New York at the weekend.
Guirassy terminated what was a creditable showing at the 2025 FIFA CWC for the Mexican outfit, with a gallant exit coming after they moved unbeaten throughout the group stage (W1, D2).
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