Vitinha and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia linked up – unintentionally – to score PSG’s opener
Paris St-Germain beat Seattle Sounders to seal their place in the Fifa Club World Cup knockout stages.
The European champions win Group B and will play the runners-up of Group A – which is likely to be Palmeiras or Inter Miami.
Their opening goal had a hint of fortune to it with Vitinha’s 20-yard first-time drive heading off target before hitting Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the back and going in.
They added a second on the counter with Achraf Hakimi slamming in from Bradley Barcola’s pass.
PSG deserved their victory in Seattle with Desire Doue forcing three stops from Sounders keeper Stefan Frei.
The hosts’ best chance came when Gianluigi Donnarumma gave the ball straight to Jesus Ferreira, who shot over from a tight angle.
What was the main talking point?
Could PSG bounce back from their defeat by Botafogo last time was the main question. They had won six in a row, including the Champions League final against Inter Milan, before that loss.
The answer was yes. The French side were far from their best but they were good enough to beat their Major League Soccer hosts.
They are now four games away from adding a first world title to their maiden European one – and they still have striker Ousmane Dembele to come back from injury.
Which player stood out?
Vitinha was quality again in the heart of the PSG midfield. He completed 107 of his 113 passes – and had that accidental assist for Kvaratskhelia.
The Portuguese midfielder is aiming to win three continental or global trophies in the space of six weeks, having already lifted the Champions League with PSG and Nations League with Portugal.
The standout stat
PSG had 73% possession over their three group-stage games, completing over 1,500 more passes than their opponents
What is next for these teams?
PSG play either Inter Miami – in what would be a reunion with their former player Lionel Messi – or Palmeiras in Atlanta on Sunday (17:00 BST).
Sounders are back in MLS action the same day against Austin.
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