PSG Advances to Last 16 of Club World Cup with 2-0 Victory Over Seattle Sounders
Paris Saint-Germain secured their place in the last 16 of the Club World Cup with a comfortable 2-0 win against the Seattle Sounders on Monday night. The European champions needed a bounce-back performance after their earlier 1-0 defeat to Botafogo, and they delivered with a solid showing at Lumen Field.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring in the 35th minute, deflecting a wayward shot from Vitinha into the net. The goal came in front of 50,628 fans, setting the tone for PSG’s dominance. Achraf Hakimi then doubled the lead in the 66th minute, finishing off a well-constructed move initiated by Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola.
With the victory, PSG topped Group B on goal difference, climbing from second place after Botafogo fell to Atletico Madrid simultaneously. The win sets up a matchup against the Group A runners-up in Atlanta on Sunday, marking PSG’s departure from the West Coast after a successful campaign.
PSG coach Luis Enrique acknowledged the challenges posed by the pitch conditions, stating, “It wasn’t easy because the pitch was very different to what we are used to in Europe. We couldn’t play with the fluidity that we like, but we adapted.” He commended the Sounders for their intensity and quality throughout the match.
Enrique made four changes to his starting lineup following the defeat to Botafogo, bringing in captain Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Fabian Ruiz, and Joao Neves. However, Ousmane Dembélé, PSG’s top scorer from the previous season, remained sidelined due to injury, missing his third consecutive match.
The Sounders faced an uphill battle, needing a significant victory combined with a loss for Atletico to advance. Despite a few promising moments, including a powerful shot from Desire Doue that was tipped over the bar, they lacked the quality to seriously challenge PSG.
The opening goal came just before halftime, with Kvaratskhelia’s deflection proving pivotal. Hakimi’s goal solidified PSG’s control, marking his tenth goal of the season. The match concluded with the Parisians firmly in command, demonstrating their status as one of the tournament favorites.
