Real Madrid C.F. will meet Paris Saint-Germain in a mouthwatering FIFA Club World Cup 2025? semi-final after a dramatic victory over Borussia Dortmund at MetLife Stadium.

First-half goals from in-form namesakes Gonzalo and Fran Garcia, and a spectacular late volley from Kylian Mbappe, ultimately ensured progression for a Merengues team roared on by a huge, partisan crowd at the vast New Jersey arena. Dortmund, though, fought until the very end, scoring twice in a frantic period of stoppage time - and very nearly grabbing a third.

The Germans had started brightly and created the first chance in six minutes when Julian Brandt stole in at the near post and flashed a header narrowly wide.

Within four minutes, however, they were behind, as the breakout star of this Club World Cup continued his spectacular run of scoring form.

Gonzalo Garcia, preferred for a starting role to the fit-again Mbappe, justified the faith of Xabi Alonso with another Raul-like finish, sneaking in between Dortmund?s centre-backs to cushion a first-time volley into the far corner from Arda Guler?s measured cross.

It was a goal that settled Madrid nerves and, until the late dramatic finish, the outcome rarely seemed in doubt from that early stage. The Spanish giants' probable victory looked to have become inevitable ten minutes later when the lively Fran Garcia profited from more static Dortmund defending, racing past the flat-footed Julian Ryerson to sweep home first time from Trent Alexander-Arnold?s inviting low cutback.

Seeing the need to turn the tide, Niko Kovac reacted with a triple half-time substitution, and his side did improve in the second half. Maximilian Beier, one of the players introduced at the interval, came closes to pulling them back into contention just after the hour-mark when he cut in from the left and forced a fine a fine save from Thibaut Courtois with a fierce low shot.

Then, just as it seemed Alonso's side were coasting to a routine win, that same substitute struck three minutes into stoppage time, pouncing on a poor Antonio Rudiger clearance to crash home a first-time shot.

That kicked off a crazy five-minute period that included a red card and two more goals, the first a stunning acrobatic volley from Mbappe, who paid tribute to Diogo Jota in his celebration.

Madrid then fell asleep at the restart, and lost a goal - and a man - when Serhou Guirassy earned and converted a penalty following a professional foul by Dean Huijsen. Dortmund would even have forced extra time at the death were it not for a truly magnificent Courtois save to block a perfectly struck, and goal-bound, effort from Yan Couto.

It made for a breathless end to this Metlife thriller, and more excitement seems guaranteed when Mbappe and Co go up against the European champions in this same stadium on Wednesday, 9 July. (FIFA.COM)

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