By Sachit Subba • Football • Jul 06, 2025 02:30 AM • 126 views
Paris Saint-Germain's quest for a historic quadruple remains alive—and how. Reduced to nine men and running on adrenaline, PSG showcased grit, guile, and a touch of genius as they toppled European giants Bayern Munich 2-0 to storm into the Club World Cup semi-finals on Saturday. It was Ousmane Dembele who ultimately tipped the scales. With the clock ticking deep into added time and PSG digging in against relentless Bayern pressure, the French winger surged forward and sealed the victory with a goal that was part poetry, part defiance. His 96th-minute strike, clinically finished after a scintillating run and assist from Achraf Hakimi, was the dagger that floored the Bundesliga champions.
Dembele: The Relentless Spark
If ever a player embodied both flair and ferocity, it was Dembele on this night in Doha. Entering the match with PSG down to ten, and later nine, he didn't just play—he fought. He pressed. He sprinted. He dug deep. And then he scored. “The Ballon d'Or? I'd give it to Mr. Ousmane Dembele," coach Luis Enrique declared, echoing a statement he made after their Champions League triumph earlier this year. "The way he defended today—that's leadership. That's football at its purest." Dembele's defensive pressing led to the turnover that sparked the goal. However, his awareness, timing, and finish were the result of a player operating on a completely different level.
Early Breakthrough, Late Drama
PSG took the lead through 18-year-old Desire Doue—his first ever Club World Cup goal—finishing off a composed team move midway through the second half. But the real story began just minutes later. Within ten minutes of taking the lead, PSG were hit with two hammer blows. Centre-back Willian Pacho was shown a straight red for a last-man foul. Shortly after, Lucas Hernandez was also dismissed for a reckless challenge, leaving PSG with nine men against a Bayern side smelling blood. Luis Enrique stayed calm. His players stayed committed. “It was hard. Really hard," the Spaniard admitted. “But nothing special. Business as usual."
A Score Settled
This wasn't just another win for PSG. This was redemption. Bayern had edged them in the 2020 UEFA Champions League final. They'd beaten them earlier this season. Saturday night was about more than survival—it was about sending a message. "We had a score to settle," said Captain Marquinhos. “And we did it. This group knows how to suffer. We want to win this competition."
A Road Paved in Fire
With the Champions League, Ligue 1, and the French Cup already in their trophy cabinet, PSG are on the verge of completing an unprecedented quadruple. But standing in their way are the winners of the Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Madrid semi-final. They'll go into that clash without two key defenders, but with a renewed belief—and with Ousmane Dembele leading the charge, anything seems possible.
