Bellingham missing against Real: BVB in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup after a nervous win against Monterrey
Jobe Bellingham received his second yellow card of the tournament.
(Photo: REUTERS)
The first half went brilliantly, but then things got really tight against Monterrey. After a thrilling round of 16 clash at the Club World Cup, Borussia Dortmund now faced Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid. However, the Bellinghams' brotherly clash didn't materialize.
And now against Real Madrid: Thanks to a brace from Serhou Guirassy and outstanding goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, Borussia Dortmund has struggled to overcome its tricky Club World Cup round of 16 tie against Sergio Ramos' CF Monterrey and now faces the Royals coached by Xabi Alonso. Coach Niko Kovac's team defeated the Mexican underdog 2-1 (2-0) despite a few wobbles and earned an additional $13.125 million for reaching the quarterfinals at the tournament in the USA.
In the air-conditioned and gigantic Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, BVB got off to a brilliant start, with Guirassy (14th, 24th) rewarding the favorites with early goals. But Germán Berterame (48th) brought Monterrey back into the game, and the Mexicans came close to equalizing in the second half.
Dortmund luckily survived the pressure phase, but still has to contend with disappointment: The clash between the Bellingham brothers will not take place in the quarterfinals on Saturday (10:00 p.m. CEST/DAZN) in East Rutherford because Dortmund's Jobe Bellingham received his second yellow card of the tournament and is therefore suspended. Madrid, the team of former Dortmund player Jude Bellingham, had previously deservedly eliminated Juventus Turin 1-0 in the round of 16.
Cooler temperatures are good for BVBKovac had warned of the Mexicans' rustic style of play. However, the opposite happened: It was Dortmund who made the first physical impact. Niklas Süle cleared his opponent in the opposing penalty area and received a verbal warning. The Mexicans, described by national player Pascal Groß as a "surprise package," had their first dangerous shot through Nelson Deossa (11th minute), but Kobel was on the spot. Then Karim Adeyemi fed striker Guirassy with a backheel – the rest was a mere formality for the striker.
But Monterrey held firm. A misplaced cross from Jesús Corona (17th minute) hit the post, and then Kobel made a desperate save – but Corona (20th minute) was offside. The conditions, with significantly cooler temperatures compared to previous matches, clearly benefited BVB. Dortmund attacked boldly and aggressively – after Julian Ryerson won the ball, they launched a rapid counterattack, which Guirassy finished off after another excellent pass from Adeyemi.
But when Berterame headed home early in the second half, Monterrey came back on the attack. Spurred on by their raucous fans, the Mexicans pushed for an equalizer. Kobel made a brilliant save from Corona (60th minute), then the Monterrey striker shot over (64th minute). Berterame's second goal (65th minute) was ruled out for offside.
The stadium grew increasingly louder, and the pitch increasingly hectic. Dortmund suffered and found little relief, while Monterrey attacked furiously. Kovac's attempts to calm things down with substitutions paid off. Dortmund regained composure. Ramos (90'+1') missed Monterrey's last big chance to equalize in stoppage time.
Source: ntv.de, ino/sid
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