What was billed as a marquee Club World Cup Round of 16 clash quickly turned into a lopsided demolition, as PSG thrashed Inter Miami 4-0 on Sunday. The match underscored the glaring mismatch between Europe’s elite and MLS’s aging, unbalanced representative.
From the outset, PSG’s high press suffocated Miami. The French champions, bolstered by Qatari wealth and tactical precision, dominated every inch of the pitch. In the first half alone, PSG created six big chances while Miami failed to register a single shot and completed just three passes into the attacking third.
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João Neves scored twice before halftime, capitalizing on Miami’s inability to play out from the back. Désiré Doué added a third via a deflected cross, and Achraf Hakimi hammered home a fourth in stoppage time. Even Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez looked overmatched, rendered invisible by PSG’s relentless press and speed.
PSG manager Luis Enrique shared his thoughts with DAZN post match: “I have to say [it is a] great feeling. We were almost perfect. We were in control of the match and created a lot of chances.
“We were great in the first half, and in the second half we were different – played with less energy, but we were good.
“I am happy with all the players, the mentality, the attitude. We can always improve.”
Inter Miami’s coach has provided his post-mortem to DAZN: “We saw the difference between the teams, but we are proud of the guys. Until the end, they worked hard. They tried to play. The difference is like this [between the two sides].
“We have to move forward [now] because this was a great experience for us. The most important thing is that we were working hard and played well during this tournament.
“We knew today was going to be very, very difficult. They [PSG] are probably the best team in the world. In the second half, we tried to play and show our worth.”
PSG eased off in the second half, turning the game into a training exercise. Miami stabilized but never threatened. The gulf in class was evident at every position, collectively and individually. PSG advances to the quarterfinals in Atlanta, awaiting the winner of the Bayern Munich vs. Flamengo match. Miami, meanwhile, exits humbled.
