In front of 31,442 fans at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Dortmund seized control early. The opening goal came in the 14th minute when Adeyemi slipped a clever pass to Guirassy, who drove a low shot just inside the left post. Ten minutes later, Adeyemi again found the French-born Guinean striker unmarked at the top of the penalty area, and Guirassy made no mistake, calmly slotting past goalkeeper Esteban Andrada to double the lead.
Guirassy, 29, now has three goals in four Club World Cup games and 37 across all competitions in his first season with Dortmund. Reflecting on his performance, he was pleased but candid: “I think I could have scored three goals at least. But I’m happy I helped the team. The most important thing was to win the game.”
Despite Dortmund’s bright start, Monterrey refused to go quietly. Rayados, cheered on by a spirited group of flag-waving supporters, roared back after halftime. Less than three minutes into the second half, Érick Aguirre headed a deflected cross back across goal to Germán Berterame, who nodded it in to halve the deficit.
Monterrey pressed relentlessly, using their pace to attack Dortmund vertically and dominating much of the second half. The Mexican side finished with 59% possession and outshot Dortmund 7-3 on target, forcing the German club to hold on under sustained pressure.
Dortmund’s early goals, however, proved decisive, sending them through to face Real Madrid in Saturday’s quarterfinal at East Rutherford, New Jersey. Real Madrid advanced earlier in the day with a 1-0 win over Juventus.
The match also delivered a note of personal disappointment for Dortmund’s Jobe Bellingham. The midfielder received a yellow card in the 28th minute, ruling him out of the next game against his older brother, Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid’s star signing and former Dortmund standout, because of yellow card accumulation.
For Monterrey, the loss meant elimination and the end of North America’s hopes in the tournament. Their captain, Sergio Ramos, praised his team’s fight while highlighting the quality of Mexican football. “We played a fantastic game from the first minute to the last one,” Ramos said through an interpreter. “All the players who have been involved in the Premier League and the Spanish competition know the quality of the Mexican teams. We don’t need to sell it.”
Meanwhile, Dortmund’s American international Gio Reyna did not feature for the third time in four Club World Cup games, fueling speculation about his uncertain future with the club.
The victory underlined European dominance at the Club World Cup, with Dortmund’s progress ensuring that five of the eight quarterfinalists hail from Europe. While Monterrey threatened a comeback, Dortmund’s early precision — epitomized by Adeyemi’s clever assists and Guirassy’s clinical finishing — made the difference on the night.