Staff Reporter.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) moved a step closer to another trophy with a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup on Saturday, overshadowed by a serious-looking ankle injury to Jamal Musiala and two red cards for the French side.
Desire Doue, who scored twice in PSG’s Champions League final win over Inter Milan, sent a 78th-minute low, left-footed drive into the corner for the opening goal.
With PSG two men down after a pair of late red cards and Bayern throwing everyone forward, Ousmane Dembele added an insurance goal deep into stoppage time to send the French powerhouse on to the semifinals Wednesday against either Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Defeat means it was Bayern legend Thomas Muller’s final game for the club, having previously announced his decision to leave at the end of his contract this summer.
PSG, which claimed its first Champions League title with a 5-0 rout of Inter Milan five weeks ago, broke a scoreless deadlock when Joao Neves stole the ball from Harry Kane near the halfway line to send the French team sprinting toward the Bayern goal.
Neves got the ball back off a give-and-go and found Doué lurking just outside the top of the area. His left-footed shot caught Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer flat-footed as it skidded inside the right post.
Musiala departed on a stretcher at halftime after suffering a gruesome ankle injury following a tangle for the ball with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma that did not show any signs of ill intent.
Donnarumma was distraught after seeing the extent of Musiala’s injury, which came in the final seconds of the first half.
Both teams walked toward the locker rooms in stunned silence, with the PSG keeper appearing to be close to tears. He was booed throughout the second half by Bayern fans each time he touched the ball.
PSG had to hold on for dear life to preserve the win after William Pacho and Lucas Hernandez were both sent off with red cards. Pacho was called for a reckless challenge and Hernández earned red for doling out an elbow.
Associated Press information contributed into this report.