Late Doué and Dembélé Goals Seal Semi-Final Berth After VAR Drama and Two Sendings-Off
In a match that had everything—disallowed goals, two red cards, a horror injury, and late VAR controversy—Paris Saint-Germain emerged victorious against Bayern Munich in a pulsating 2-0 win to book their place in the Club World Cup semi-finals.
The clash at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium lived up to its heavyweight billing, with PSG finally breaking their four-game winless streak against the German giants thanks to 19-year-old Desire Doué’s 78th-minute strike and Ousmane Dembélé’s stoppage-time clincher. But the path to victory was anything but straightforward.
A Game of Near-Misses and Heartbreak
The first half saw Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano head home from a free-kick, only for the offside flag to cruelly wipe out his celebration. Worse followed for Thomas Tuchel’s side when Jamal Musiala was stretchered off in agony after colliding with Gianluigi Donnarumma just before halftime—a moment that left players from both sides visibly shaken.
After the break, the drama intensified. Manuel Neuer, who had been Bayern’s savior with a series of stunning saves, gifted PSG a golden chance when his wayward pass fell to Dembélé—only for the Frenchman to somehow roll his shot wide of an open goal.
Red Cards, VAR, and Late Chaos
Just as PSG thought they’d sealed it through Doué’s deflected strike, the game spiraled into madness. Defender Willian Pacho saw red for a reckless lunge on Leon Goretzka, reducing PSG to 10 men. Moments later, Harry Kane thought he’d equalized with a textbook header—only for another offside flag to crush Bayern’s hopes.
The chaos wasn’t over. Lucas Hernández’s elbow on Raphaël Guerreiro earned him a second red card, leaving PSG clinging on with just nine men. Yet somehow, Dembélé made amends for his earlier miss, slotting home in the dying seconds to seal the win.
Even then, Bayern were handed a lifeline when referee Anthony Taylor initially awarded a penalty for a high boot—only for VAR to controversially overturn the decision, leaving Tuchel’s men empty-handed.
What’s Next?
PSG now advance to face either Borussia Dortmund or Real Madrid in the semi-finals, their dreams of a fifth trophy this season still alive. For Bayern, it’s another painful big-game defeat—and more questions for Tuchel after a night where nothing went their way.
The Takeaway: In a tournament craving a true classic, PSG and Bayern delivered a match for the ages—one that had fans on the edge of their seats until the very last whistle.
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