Nidhish Waghmare
Serhou Guirassy continued his red-hot form with a first-half brace as Borussia Dortmund defeated Monterrey 2-1 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, booking their spot in the Club World Cup quarter-finals.
The 29-year-old striker opened the scoring in the 14th minute after a slick one-two with Karim Adeyemi, then doubled the lead 10 minutes later with a composed finish from the edge of the box. Guirassy now has 37 goals this season across all competitions.
“I think I could have scored at least three goals,” Guirassy told DAZN. “But I am happy to have helped the team win”.
Monterrey Fight Back, Ramos Nearly Forces Extra Time
German Berterame pulled one back for Monterrey early in the second half, heading home a rebound in the 48th minute. The Mexican side, led by Sergio Ramos, pushed hard for an equaliser, with Ramos himself nearly scoring in stoppage time with a glancing header that went just wide.
Despite the pressure, Dortmund held firm, with Gregor Kobel making key saves to deny Jesus Corona and others.
“The crowd saw that the team gave everything,” Ramos said post-match. “We have to continue moving forward”.
What’s Next: Dortmund vs Real Madrid
Dortmund’s win sets up a mouthwatering quarter-final clash with Real Madrid. However, Jobe Bellingham will miss the match after picking up a yellow card, denying fans a potential on-field showdown with his brother Jude Bellingham.
Coach Niko Kovac praised his team’s grit:
“We had to be patient… it’s about competing in a tie. I’m happy we held on”
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