Borussia Dortmund fell to a 3-2 defeat against Real Madrid in a captivating FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final match held in New Jersey on Saturday.
The German side began the encounter with promise, with Brandt narrowly missing a headed opportunity following an Adeyemi cross in the fifth minute. However, Real Madrid quickly seized control. The Spanish champions drew first blood when Arda Güler was afforded space to deliver a cross, which Gonzalo Garcia confidently slotted into the net.
Real Madrid extended their lead in the 20th minute. A cross from Alexander-Arnold found Fran Garcia, who, despite being surrounded by Dortmund defenders, managed to find the back of the net. The remainder of the first half saw Real Madrid maintain their advantage, although Dortmund regained some attacking presence without posing a significant threat. A potential scoring opportunity for Vinicius Jr. was averted when he slipped, providing a fortunate relief for Borussia Dortmund’s goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel.
The match intensified significantly during the closing stages of the second half. Maximilian Beier brought Dortmund back into the contest with a goal in the second minute of added time. However, Arda Güler swiftly restored Real Madrid’s two-goal lead shortly afterwards. A penalty was then awarded to Dortmund, followed by a red card for Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen. Serhou Guirassy capitalized on the penalty to reduce the deficit, making the score 2-3. In the final, dramatic seconds, Marcel Sabitzer had a chance to equalize, but his effort narrowly missed the target, effectively ending Dortmund’s hopes in the competition.
