Borussia Dortmund secured their place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Monterrey on Tuesday at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Serhou Guirassy was the hero of the night, scoring twice in the first half. The Guinean forward found the net in the 14th and 24th minutes with two clinical finishes. His goals gave Dortmund a strong lead before halftime.
But Monterrey came alive in the second half. Just three minutes after the break, German Berterame pulled one back for the Mexican side. Erick Aguirre provided the assist with a smart header across goal. Monterrey then pushed hard for an equalizer, keeping the Dortmund defense under constant pressure.
Veteran Sergio Ramos almost forced extra time. His powerful header in the dying minutes grazed the outside of the post. But Dortmund held firm to seal the win and set up a high-profile quarter-final against Real Madrid in New Jersey on Saturday.
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One key subplot ended in disappointment for fans hoping to see a family showdown. Jobe Bellingham picked up a yellow card in the 28th minute, which means he will miss the next match. That rules out a possible face-off with his brother, Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid.
Speaking after the match, Guirassy said, “It was difficult. They’re a good team with experienced players. We had a very good first half. Second half was harder, but we stayed strong and got the win.”
The match started with intensity. Monterrey’s Nelson Deossa tested Dortmund early with a long-range shot. Jesus Corona also struck the post with a cross-shot. But Dortmund’s attack soon took control.
In the 14th minute, Guirassy finished a slick one-two move with Karim Adeyemi. Just ten minutes later, Adeyemi set him up again with a clever assist after a long ball from Julian Ryerson.
Guirassy had a chance to complete a hat-trick before halftime but missed golden opportunities created by Jobe Bellingham and Pascal Gross.
Monterrey’s second-half energy gave their fans hope. Corona stayed dangerous, forcing more saves from Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Berterame even had another goal, but it was ruled offside. Dortmund made key substitutions around the 70th minute to calm the game.
Despite late pressure, Dortmund defended well. They now look ahead to a massive test against 15-time European champions Real Madrid.
