Achraf Hakimi celebrates after scoring PSG’s second goal. 2) Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring for Inter Miami.
Atlanta: Despite a shaky start to the tournament, French team PSG have advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the Club World Cup as group champions. The European champions secured a pre-quarterfinal berth by defeating US club Seattle Sounders 2-0 in their final Group B match. Seattle was eliminated from the tournament with the defeat. Spanish club Atletico Madrid failed to advance to the knockout round despite defeating Brazilian club Botafogo 1-0 in another match in the group. With both teams tied on points, Botafogo advanced to the pre-quarterfinals after beating Atletico on goal difference. US club Inter Miami also advanced to the pre-quarterfinals after drawing 2-2 with Brazilian club Palmeiras in their final Group A match. PSG will face Miami in the pre-quarterfinal match on the 29th. In another match, Portuguese club Porto was held to a 4–4 draw by Egyptian club Al Ahly.
PSG entered the match against Seattle Sounders without any fatigue from the unexpected defeat to Botafogo in the last match. PSG, who took control of the match from the start and filled the field with 73 percent of the ball, left the US club completely stunned. PSG opened their account in the 35th minute of the first half through Quique Kavaratzeliya. The bullet shot from outside the box hit Kavaratzeliya’s body and went into the post. PSG’s second goal was in the 66th minute through Achraf Hakimi. PSG’s strikers had 7 shots on goal against Seattle. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei’s resistance helped Seattle to survive without further losses.
Atletico Madrid in shock
Atletico Madrid needed a win to advance to the pre-quarterfinals when they went into their final group match against Botafogo. Antoine Griezmann’s goal in the 87th minute gave them the win, but the Spanish club were unable to overcome Botafogo on goal difference. Botafogo’s goal difference is 0 and Atletico’s is -1. With this, the Brazilian club overtook Atletico and advanced to the pre-quarterfinals. Atletico’s villain was a 4-0 defeat to PSG in the first match.
Miami is coming
Despite losing the game in hand, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami entered the pre-quarterfinals of the Club World Cup as second place in Group A. Miami had conceded two goals after leading 2-0 against Palmeiras in the last match yesterday. Tadeo Allende (16th minute) and Luis Suarez (65th minute) scored for Miami. Paulinho (80th minute) and Mauricio (87th minute) scored for Palmeiras. Although both teams had 5 points each, the Brazilian club advanced to the pre-quarterfinals as group champions on goal difference (Palmeiras – 2, Miami – 1).
