Monterrey Push Dortmund to the Brink, Fall Short in Club World Cup Thriller

Borussia Dortmund survived a determined second-half surge from Monterrey to secure a 2-1 win in the Round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Dortmund counted on an early brace from Serhou Guirassy and well organized transition attacking to continue to the quarterfinals, though Monterrey made them work for it and it did not come easy.

A competitive tone was set almost immediately, as a harsh foul by Dortmund in the 5th minute went unpunished with a card. Monterrey took notice, going to ground often as they searched for fouls, but the referee allowed the match to remain continuous and tense.

Monterrey was given an early corner in the 8th minute and a dangerous 25-yard strike from Nelson Deossa, well saved by Gregor Kobel, before Dortmund broke through at the other end. In the 14th minute, Karim Adeyemi picked out Guirassy at the top of the box with a sharp inside ball, and the forward sent it into the back of the net to make it 1- 0.

(photos: Sofia Cupertino for the SDH Network)

Monterrey almost responded just a few minutes later when Deossa rocketed a shot off the post from outside the 18. Then, in the 19th minute, a ball over Dortmund’s backline led to a 1-v-1 situation, but the shot was saved and flagged for offside. Still, Monterrey’s movement was unsettling Dortmund’s press, even if the scoreboard didn’t reflect it yet.

Dortmund doubled their lead, perhaps against the run of play, in the 26th minute with a clinical counterattack. A turnover by Monterrey in the attacking third was met with a rapid transition. Adeyemi flew down the flank, waited for runners in the box, and cut the ball back to Guirassy at the top of the box. Guirassy found the back of the net for the second time, giving himself a brace on the night and giving Dortmund a 2-0 advantage.

Monterrey kept pressing. A foul drawn by Deossa led to a dangerous left-footed strike from the next free kick, but Dortmund’s defense held. Kobel made another important stop, and by the 30-minute mark, Dortmund looked comfortable in control.

The first half concluded with Dortmund continuing to control the movement, especially in transition, while Monterrey showed promising looks but lacked finishing in the box. Despite some late pressure, it remained 2-0 at the break.

Monterrey came out from halftime energized, and it paid off instantly. In the 48th minute, a cross from the left side was deflected to Germán Berterame, who headed it back across the goal and inside the far post to make it 2-1.

Berterame thought he had leveled the match in the 68th minute, but his goal was called back for offside, though the buildup to the shot was some of Monterrey’s best. The momentum was firmly with the Monterrey side as Dortmund’s midfield ad defense struggled to regain its early rhythm from the first half.

Dortmund turned to their bench in the 71st minute, bringing on fresh legs in an attempt to regain control of the match. Monterrey still had their looks, even though they were less frequent. Óliver Torres had a look in the 79th minute that was deflected wide, and despite several unsettling and pure luck moments for Dortmund, the equalizer never came.

The final whistle came as a relief for Dortmund, who advanced to the quarterfinals. For Monterrey, it’s a bitter exit, but one that showed the quality and depth of their squad.