Courtois saves Real Madrid in dramatic Dortmund win
Real Madrid dramatically defeated Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a pulsating Club World Cup encounter, with Thibaut Courtois's stunning 99th-minute save sealing their spot in the semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain. Despite a late red card and penalty for Dortmund, Real held on, driven by early goals and a spectacular strike from Kylian Mbappé.
In a thrilling and at times chaotic Club World Cup quarter-final in New Jersey, Real Madrid emerged victorious over Borussia Dortmund with a 3-2 win, setting up a blockbuster semi-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain. The match delivered a dramatic stoppage-time finale, with Thibaut Courtois producing a magnificent last-gasp save to preserve Real's lead.
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Real Madrid appeared to be cruising to a comfortable win, leading 2-0 with goals from Gonzalo Garcia and Fran Garcia as the clock ticked past 90 minutes. However, the closing stages erupted into a frenzy. Maximilian Beier pulled one back for Dortmund in the 90+2 minute, capitalizing on a poor clearance from Antonio Rudiger. But Kylian Mbappé swiftly responded with a spectacular scissor-kick goal in the 90+4 minute, seemingly restoring Real's two-goal cushion.
The drama escalated further when Dean Huijsen was shown a red card for hauling back Serhou Guirassy, who then confidently converted the resulting penalty in the 90+8 minute, leaving Real's nerves frayed. Dortmund pressed hard for an equalizer, and Marcel Sabitzer's powerful drive looked destined for the net, only for Courtois to make an incredible, match-winning save in the 99th minute, ensuring Real narrowly crossed the finish line.
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Earlier in the game, Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered another assist for Real Madrid. On an emotional day for the right-back, marked by a pre-match moment of silence for his former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota, Alexander-Arnold's quality shone through. After his first assist against Juventus in the previous round, he fizzed a low pass for fellow full-back Fran Garcia to slot in Real's second goal. Rising star Gonzalo Garcia also continued his impressive form, scoring his fourth goal in five tournament appearances for his boyhood club.
Mbappé's crucial and spectacular strike sets the stage for an intriguing reunion with his former club, PSG, when Real Madrid faces them in the final-four showdown this Wednesday at the same venue.
