A late strike from Desire Doue helped a nine-man Paris St-Germain secure a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich on Saturday, in a dramatic FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final overshadowed by a serious ankle injury to Bayern’s Jamal Musiala.
The French side finished the fiery encounter with two red cards but held on to set up a semi-final showdown with Real Madrid.
After an entertaining but goalless first half, the match was marred by a significant injury to Musiala. The German international, making his first start of the tournament, was caught by a challenge from PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma near the byeline and had to be stretchered off with what appeared to be a severe ankle injury.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 78th minute when 20-year-old PSG forward Desire Doue cut in from the right flank and fired a low, left-footed drive into the corner past Manuel Neuer.
The intensity escalated as PSG defender Willian Pacho was dismissed four minutes later for a high lunge on Leon Goretzka. In stoppage time, full-back Lucas Hernandez also received his marching orders for an elbow on Raphael Guerreiro.
Despite being two men down, PSG sealed the victory when Ousmane Dembele scored on the counter-attack in the dying moments.
The match saw numerous chances for both sides, with Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano and Harry Kane both having goals ruled out for offside. The German champions were also denied a late penalty when referee Anthony Taylor overturned his initial decision after a VAR review of a challenge on Thomas Muller. The defeat marked the final appearance for 35-year-old Muller, who is leaving the club after a 17-year career.
Both goalkeepers were standout performers, with Bayern’s Manuel Neuer and PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma making several crucial saves to keep their teams in the contest.
PSG will now face Real Madrid in the semi-finals at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Wednesday, July 9.
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