Paris Saint-Germain booked their place in the Club World Cup knockout stage with a 2-0 win over hosts Seattle Sounders on Monday, finishing top of Group B with six points.
After a shock defeat to Botafogo in their opener, the European champions needed a win to secure progression — and delivered with goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi.
The opener came in the 35th minute in bizarre fashion. After a corner was cleared, Vitinha struck from the edge of the area. His shot was off target but deflected off Kvaratskhelia’s back and into the net, wrong-footing Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
PSG sealed the win in the 66th minute. Substitute Bradley Barcola burst into the box and, as five Seattle defenders committed to stop him, he squared to a wide-open Hakimi, who calmly finished into an empty net.
Seattle had started strongly, pinning PSG back and threatening from early corners. But they lacked composure in the final third, with Obed Vargas and others unable to capitalise.
As the match wore on, PSG’s superior quality and counter-attacking threat became clear. Hakimi nearly added a second earlier in the 60th minute with a superb cross to Joao Neves, whose stretched effort missed the target.
With Atletico Madrid beating Botafogo 1-0 in the other Group B clash, PSG top the group with six points. They will face the Group A runners-up on Sunday in the Round of 16, while Botafogo — second on goal difference — face the Group A winners on Saturday.
Seattle exit the tournament without a win from their three home games, needing a three-goal victory over PSG to stand any chance but falling short despite early promise.
