By Frank Ulom
NEW YORK (CONVERSEER) – Kylian Mbappé produced a moment of magic deep into stoppage time to earn Real Madrid a dramatic 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals, booking their place in the semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Real Madrid began on the front foot, with academy graduate Gonzalo García breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute. A slick passing move culminated in García side-footing past Gregor Kobel to make it 1-0.
Ten minutes later, left full-back Fran García ghosted unmarked into the box to tap home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low cross and double the Blancos’ lead.
Despite their early dominance, Madrid eased off thereafter, allowing Dortmund to gain a foothold. Jude Bellingham spurned a chance to extend the lead when he dragged a shot wide after a neat build-up, and Aurelien Tchouaméni’s curling effort rattled the bar on the hour mark.
With Madrid seemingly cruising, Dortmund pulled one back through Max Beier, whose powerful finish in the second-half stoppage time gave them hope. Yet two minutes later, Mbappé rose majestically to meet a cross with an overhead kick that flew into the bottom left corner of the net, restoring Madrid’s two-goal cushion.
QUE GOLAZO!!!!
🎯 MBAPPÉ GOES AIRBORNE! HE'S BACK!
Overhead kick. Back of the net. Instant classic.
Superstar stuff from Kylian. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/lx646RuR5w— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) July 5, 2025
The drama was not over. Dean Huijsen was sent off for hauling down Serhou Guirassy in the area, and the striker coolly converted the penalty to make it 3-2. In the dying seconds, Thibaut Courtois produced a superb save to deny Dortmund an equaliser.
Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso hailed his team’s character after the match. “It was a roller-coaster of emotions,” Alonso said. “To find that goal through such brilliance shows the quality we have. We dug deep when it mattered.”
The victory sets up an eagerly anticipated semi-final against Mbappé’s former club PSG, promising another high-stakes encounter before the final.
