Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the reigning European champions, showcased their dominance with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Seattle Sounders in a Club World Cup group stage clash. Played at the Sounders’ home ground, Lumen Field, before a crowd of over 50,000 spectators, PSG controlled the match, securing their spot in the last 16 despite not reaching their full potential. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s deflected goal in the first half and Achraf Hakimi’s clinical finish in the second sealed the win, propelling PSG to the top of Group B due to Botafogo’s simultaneous defeat against Atletico Madrid.
PSG entered the match needing a strong performance following their unexpected 1-0 loss to Botafogo in their previous group game. Against the MLS side, they demonstrated their superior quality, though their performance lacked the scintillating attacking flair often associated with the Parisian giants. The opening goal arose from a fortuitous deflection, with Vitinha’s wayward shot taking a decisive touch off Kvaratskhelia’s back to wrong-foot Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei. The goal, scored ten minutes before half-time, gave PSG a crucial advantage and settled their nerves after a somewhat cagey start.
The second half saw PSG maintain their control over the game, limiting Seattle’s opportunities while probing for a second goal to put the match to bed. Their patience was rewarded midway through the second period when a brilliant passing move culminated in Hakimi’s well-taken goal. Substitute Bradley Barcola, introduced earlier in the half, played a key role, receiving a delightful pass from Desire Doue before cutting inside and setting up Hakimi for a composed finish. The goal effectively ended any hopes of a Seattle comeback, as PSG comfortably saw out the remainder of the match.
With this victory, PSG topped Group B on goal difference, overtaking Botafogo who suffered a late defeat against Atletico Madrid in a parallel fixture. This result sets up a last 16 clash for PSG against the runners-up of Group A, a match scheduled to take place in Atlanta, marking the French champions’ first venture away from the west coast since their arrival in the United States for the tournament. The win also served as a valuable confidence booster for PSG after their earlier setback against Botafogo, reaffirming their status as one of the tournament favorites.
PSG manager Luis Enrique made several changes to his starting lineup following the Botafogo defeat, bringing in captain Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Fabian Ruiz, and Joao Neves. However, star forward Ousmane Dembele, PSG’s top scorer in the previous European season, remained sidelined due to injury, missing his third consecutive game of the tournament. Despite Dembele’s absence, PSG’s attacking depth proved sufficient to overcome the Sounders, who struggled to create significant chances against the well-organized Parisian defense.
Seattle Sounders, the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League winners, entered the match facing a daunting task. Requiring a substantial victory coupled with an Atletico Madrid defeat to progress to the knockout stage, their hopes were slim from the outset. They lacked the individual brilliance and cohesive team play necessary to truly trouble PSG, managing only a few sporadic opportunities throughout the match. A rare mistake by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma presented Seattle with a chance early on, but Jesus Ferreira failed to capitalize, firing his shot off target. Ultimately, the Sounders were outclassed by a superior opponent, their Club World Cup journey ending at the group stage.
