With an improbable chance to advance to the round of 16, the Seattle Sounders threw caution to the wind in their FIFA Club World Cup match. To advance to the next round, the Sounders needed a win over PSG and a minimum four-goal margin.
FRONT FOOT
The Sounders earned a corner kick two minutes into their game against European Champions PSG. While the corner was wasted, the Sounders spent the first ten minutes deep inside the PSG end. The sustained possession was wasted, and PSG began to get a foothold in the game with a high press that forced hesitation from the Sounders when they were playing out of their defensive half. PSG earned it’s first corner in the 13th minutes into the game. The corner was a sign of intent. PSG continued to attack the Sounders from both flanks but was unable to get past the stout Sounders defense, which remained resolute.
PHOTO GALLERY BY FRANCINE SCOTT
STAYING IN THE GAME
With PSG pressing forward, the Sounders were able to create several half-chances. In the 18th minute, Paul Rothrock pressured PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into a forced error, but was unable to capitalize. Donnarumma’s weak clearance landed near the feet of Jesus Ferreri, who had a look at the goal but skied the shot. PGS adjusted to the Sounders’ high press with quick passes that moved the Sounders’ defense around. The shifting of the Sounders’ defense found room for PSG‘s midfielders Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha and Joao Neves to operate.
SUSTAINED POSSESSION TOO MUCH FOR THE SOUNDERS
The sustained possession by PSG eventually wore down the Sounders’ midblock, and the European Champions took the lead in the 35th minute. Vitinha’s shot from the top of the Sounders’ goal box after a corner ricocheted off Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and into the back of the goal. While the shot was unlucky for the Sounders, the build-up was well earned by PSG. The Sounders nearly tied the match six minutes later. Alex Roldan’s slide rule pass to a galloping Ferreria opened up PSG, and the Sounders midfielder muffed his pass to Albert Rusnák, and the attempt went begging. The two sides went into the halftime break with PSG leading 1-0.
SECOND HALF DOMINANCE
The start of the second half saw PSG exert its dominance with more sustained possession and stifling defense. Down a goal and with little possession, the Sounders tried to push, as they did in the first half. The strategy played into PSG’s hands, who waited for the opportune moment to strike. That moment came in the 67th minute. An unsuccessful move by Obed Vargas in the 65th turned into a lethal counterattack by PSG. Vargas nearly split two PSG defenders when he cut inside the PSG goal box, but the ball was intercepted, and PSG was off to the races. Halftime sub Bradley Barcola galloped down the right flank garnered the attention of five Sounders defenders when he entered the goal box and fed a wide-open Achraf Hakimi for the game winner
“ We did not expect the Sounders to commit with such a high press at the beginning,” said player of the match Achraf Hakim after the game. “ We adjusted how we attacked them, and it worked out in the second half, and we were able to dominate the game.
TOUCHING MOMENT
PSG demonstrated its superior talent in closing out the game, but, as has been the case throughout the tournament, the Sounders continued to fight until the end. The biggest roar from the crowd came in the 87th minute when Jordan Morris entered the game. It was the first time he played in a game since April 26th . The biggest gasp from the crowd came just a minute later when PSG keeper Donnarumma blocked Morris’ right-footed shot. The game ended after five minutes of stoppage time, and with it, the Sounders’ participation in the FIFA Club World Cup Tournament.
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POST GAME NOTES
MATCH NOTES
- The result ends Seattle’s run in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, finishing in fourth place in Group B. Paris Saint-Germain won the group following today’s victory, with Brazilian side Botafogo also qualifying for the Round of 16 after finishing second.
- Today’s match concludes the Rave Green’s second showing in the FIFA Club World Cup, also playing in the 2022 edition of the tournament in Morocco, where they fell 1-0 to Egyptian side Al Ahly (played in 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
- Monday’s contest marked the second occasion that the Rave Green have faced a UEFA club in competitive play. Last Thursday’s Club World Cup match marked the first time, with Seattle falling 3-1 to La Liga side Atlético Madrid.
- With 50,628 watching today’s noon kickoff, Seattle’s soccer community came out in force for the Sounders FC’s FIFA Club World Cup games. Including the other two Group Stage matches at Lumen Field against Botafogo and Atlético Madrid, a total of 132,415 fans came through the turnstiles.
- Seattle was one of three MLS teams participating in this year’s Club World Cup alongside Inter Miami CF and Los Angeles Football Club. Inter Miami plays Palmeiras later today as it looks to advance out of Group A. LAFC, already eliminated from advancing in the tournament after dropping its first two contests, faces off against Flamengo tomorrow in its final match of Group D. Sounders FC was the only MLS team to qualify for the tournament by winning the Concacaf Champions Cup.
- Brian Schmetzer made four changes to the starting lineup from Thursday’s match against Atlético Madrid, with Alex Roldan, Nouhou, Ryan Kent and Jesús Ferreira replacing Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Reed Baker-Whiting, Pedro de la Vega and Danny Musovski, respectively.
- Nouhou recorded his 212th all-competition start in today’s match, tying Nicolás Lodeiro for sixth in club history.
- Seattle now returns to MLS play with a home match against Austin FC on Saturday, June 28 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Paris Saint-Germain 2
Monday, June 23, 2025
Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Cristián Garay
Assistants: Miguel Rocha, José Retamal
Fourth Official: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Kaugh
VAR: Juan Lara
Attendance: 50,628
Weather: 65 degrees and mostly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
PSG – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 35’
PSG – Achraf Hakimi (Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué) 66’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
PSG – João Neves (caution) 44’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei – Captain; Alex Roldan, Jackson Ragen, Jonathan Bell (Georgi Minoungou 72’), Nouhou; Obed Vargas (Jordan Morris 87’), Cristian Roldan; Ryan Kent (Kalani Kossa-Rienzi 57’), Albert Rusnák (Danny Leyva 72’), Paul Rothrock; Jesús Ferreira (Danny Musovski 57’)
Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Jacob Castro, Kim Kee-hee, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Cody Baker, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Reed Baker-Whiting, Travian Sousa, João Paulo, Pedro de la Vega, Osaze De Rosario
Total shots: 6
Shots on goal: 0
Fouls: 4
Offside: 2
Corner-Kicks: 6
Saves: 4
Paris Saint-Germain – Gianluigi Donnarumma; Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Marcos Aoás, Achraf Hakimi; Fabián Ruiz, Vitor Machado, João Neves (Warren Zaïre-Emery 64’); Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Bradley Barcola 64’), Senny Mayulu (Gonçalo Ramos 77’), Désiré Doué (Ibrahim Mbaye 82’)
Substitutes not used: Lucas Baraldo, Presnel Kimpembe, Lee Kang-in, Lucas Hernández, Arnau Tenas, Matvei Safonov, Gabriel Moscardo, Noham Kamara
Total shots: 15
Shots on goal: 7
Fouls: 9
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 7
Saves: 0
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