ATLANTA — Paris Saint-Germain cruised past Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16, securing a dominant 4-0 victory on Sunday. Joao Neves netted two goals, while an own goal from Miami and a strike by Achraf Hakimi extended PSG’s lead to four by halftime. The European champions will now await the winner of the Bayern Munich versus Flamengo match in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Oscar Ustari made six saves for Inter Miami, while PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma had to intervene just three times as Miami struggled to create opportunities. PSG controlled the game with a 19-7 shots advantage and enjoyed the majority of possession.
PSG coach Luis Enrique expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, acknowledging the high quality of his players. He emphasized the need to rest and prepare for the upcoming quarterfinal match, regardless of the opponent.
This match marked Messi’s first encounter with PSG since joining Inter Miami two years ago. Despite his earlier heroics against FC Porto, Messi was unable to find the net in this game.
PSG took an early lead through Neves’ header, and further goals followed from Neves, an own goal by Miami, and Hakimi. Despite some efforts from Miami’s players, they were unable to break through PSG’s defense.
Miami coach Javier Mascherano acknowledged the challenge of facing PSG, recognizing them as one of the best teams in the world. Miami was the lone Major League Soccer club to reach the knockout stage of the tournament.
Overall, PSG’s dominant display saw them progress to the quarterfinals, setting up an intriguing clash in the next round.
