Borussia Dortmund boss praises Real Madrid veteran after dramatic finish – ‘One of the best’ | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund manager Nico Kovac had nothing but praise for Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after a thrilling 3-2 quarter-final in the Club World Cup.

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Kovac highlighted Courtois’ incredible save in the dying seconds of the game, which secured Real Madrid’s place in the semi-finals.

“First of all, I’d like to congratulate Real Madrid on reaching the next stage. It was a well-deserved victory,” he said as qutoed by Mundo Deportivo.

“The ending was absolutely crazy. The smallest details can decide everything, but very few goalkeepers can make a save like that.”

Kovac didn’t hold back when recognising Courtois’ world-class ability. “He’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world. The way he blocked that shot showed his quality.

“He was so focused, so present. If we had scored that goal, it would have been a bit unfair, considering how the game went,” the Dortmund boss added.

Real Madrid survive late scare

Real Madrid started the match strongly, taking a 2-0 lead within 20 minutes thanks to goals from Gonzalo Garcia and Fran Garcia.

For much of the game, they looked comfortable, controlling possession and creating chances. However, the match took a dramatic turn in injury time, giving Dortmund hope of an unlikely comeback.

Maximilian Beier pulled one back for Dortmund in the 92nd minute, making it 2-1, but Kylian Mbappé quickly responded with a superb goal in the 94th minute to restore Madrid’s two-goal cushion at 3-1.

The drama wasn’t over, as Serhou Guirassy converted a penalty in the 98th minute after Dean Huijsen was sent off, cutting the deficit to 3-2. Huijsen’s red card means he will miss Real Madrid’s semi-final clash.

With the clock ticking down, Dortmund nearly forced extra time when Marcel Sabitzer unleashed a powerful shot in the final seconds.

But Courtois produced a world-class save, diving at full stretch to keep Madrid’s lead intact and send them through to the semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain.