PSG 2-0 Bayern Munich: Ousmane Dembele sends nine-man Parisians into Club World Cup semi-finals | OneFootball

Two red cards had little impact as European champions reached the last four

Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue inspired nine-man Paris Saint-Germain to a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich, sending the Parisians into the Club World Cup semi-finals.

The young German appeared to twist his ankle in a collision with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma at the end of stoppage time in the opening period, with a stretcher brought out as players on the pitch reacted with visible distress.

Musiala was subsequently replaced at the interval, the second of two enforced early changes for Vincent Kompany after Josip Stanisic was withdrawn with a knock.

Momentum swung back the way of the Parisians to start the second half, but Bayern soon worked their way back into a game that began to liven up as it neared its end still locked in a stalemate.

Two yellow cards were eventually shown to the Germans, including one to Kompany for dissent, before PSG winger Doue was cautioned for simulation.

But moments later, the young Frenchman found himself with the ball on the edge of the box and rifled home the opener, driving a low shot past Manuel Neuer and into the bottom right corner.

Mere minutes had gone by when the otherwise impressive William Pacho was given his marching orders for a reckless challenge on Bayern substitute Leon Goretzka, a straight red which threatened to derail PSG’s charge to reach the final four.

Bayern, who had won all four of their most recent meetings against today’s opponents without conceding a goal, piled on the pressure and thought they had pulled level shortly after, as Harry Kane’s header bounced in off the post.

But it was rightly ruled out for offside - the second time the Bundesliga giants were denied by VAR on a frustrating afternoon, after Dayot Upamecano saw an earlier effort chalked off for the same offence.

Six minutes of stoppage time were initially prescribed, yet after just one of those PSG were reduced to nine men as Lucas Hernandez was dismissed for elbowing Raphael Guerreiro shortly after coming on as a substitute.

The German side kept knocking on the door, but were eventually buried by another blistering PSG fast break.

Bayern star Jamal Musiala had to be stretchered off with an ankle injury at the end of the first half

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Dembele clattered a chance off the crossbar from the initial attack, but the ball was won back by the Parisians and returned to him by Achraf Hakimi after the Moroccan full-back wiggles through several red-clad defenders.

Hitting his second attempt without the need for a first touch, PSG’s Ballon d’Or candidate doubled his side’s lead to send Bayern - who saw an even later penalty shout for a high boot given and then overturned - packing and his crew into the semi-finals, where they will face the winner of Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund.

"We are ready for any team,” came the response from a defiant Doue after full time, when asked about his team’s potential next opponents.

With Luis Enrique’s young treble-winners now just two matches away from hoisting their fourth trophy of the 2024-25 season, one might imagine he is right.