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| Reuters Yonhap News |
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| Reuters Yonhap News |
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| AP Yonhap News |
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Golden Boy'Lee Kang-in's round of 16 match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG, France) and Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) took place.
PSG finished first in Group A and passed the group stage. PSG won 2-0 against the Seattle Sounders (USA) at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington on the 24th (Korea time) with consecutive goals from Khvitsa Kvaratshelia and Achraf Hakimi in the final Group B match of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. PSG, which defeated Atletico Madrid (Spain) 4-0 in the first game, lost 0-1 to Botafogu (Brazil) in the second game.
At the same time, Atletico Madrid beat Botafogo 1-0. With Seattle ending the tournament with all three losses, PSG, Botafogo and Atletico Madrid recorded 2-1 (six points) side by side. PSG advanced to the round of 16 as first place ahead of goal difference (+5).
Botafogu passed the group stage in second place (+1). Atletico Madrid were eliminated from the group stage with a goal difference of -1 even though they lost 2-1 in the group stage. In the Club World Cup, which has been expanded to 32 teams, the first and second places in each group will advance to the round of 16.
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| 신화 Yonhap News |
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| Reuters Yonhap News |
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PSG's opponent in the round of 16 has been decided. In the final Group A match, Faumeiras (Brazil) and Inter Miami (USA) drew 2-2. The two teams scored five points (one win and two draws) side by side. Faumeiras (+2), who was leading in goal difference, finished the group stage in first place and Inter Miami (+1).
Inter Miami led 2-0 with Luis Suarez scoring one goal and one assist. However, he missed the victory, allowing Paulinho and Mauricio to score consecutive goals in the 35th minute of the second half and 42nd minute.
Messi left Barcelona and played for PSG from 2021 to 2023. He left PSG after failing to reach the top of the European Champions League (UCL). PSG achieved that dream in the 2024-2025 season. He won his first treble (three gold medals) since his foundation, reaching the top of the UCL as well as the League 1 and France Cup.
Inter Miami was the only American club in the host country to survive. Coach Javier Mascherano said "We have achieved the goal we set at the start of this tournament: to advance to the round of 16"Despite the fact that we face the best team in Europe, the Champions League winner, we will play with the same humility and seriousness. If there's one thing the sport has shown us, it's that anything can happen in the game."
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| AP Yonhap News |
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| EPA Yonhap News |
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PSG, who took the stage six hours earlier, took the lead in the 35th minute with a lucky goal from Kvaratshelia. Vitinha's shot deflected off Kvaratshelia's body and was sucked into the goal. Vitina recorded the help.
Hakimi scored an extra goal in the 21st minute of the second half. Bradley Barcola's cross was calmly answered with a right-footed shot to break the net.
However, Lee Kang-in's absence was regrettable. He took the field as a substitute in both the first and second games. In the first game, the team took the ground instead of Lewis in the 27th minute of the second half when the team was leading 3-0. Lee Kang-in hit a net in extra time in the second half. PSG won a penalty for an opponent's handball foul, and Lee Kang-in succeeded as a kicker. It was the first time in seven months since the league's away game against Angé on November 10 last year.
In the second game, Lee Kang-in was put in place of Desiredoo in the 34th minute of the second half. He struggled with a sharp shot at the gate, but failed to prevent the defeat. He missed the game against Seattle. Seattle center back Kim Ki-hee also stood by on the bench.
Lee Kang-in is once again aiming to start the tournament for the first time in the round of 16. The round of 16 match between PSG and Inter Miami will be held at 1 a.m. on the 30th at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
