Club World Cup: Atletico Madrid maintains its chance of progressing

After a bitter opening defeat against Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid bounced back at the Club World Cup in the USA. The Spanish third-place team beat hosts Seattle Sounders 3-1 (1-0) at Lumen Field, with Pablo Barrios scoring a brace.

Atletico, which had been left without a chance against PSG (0-4) at Pasadena's Rose Bowl Stadium on Monday night, took an early lead against the club from the North American soccer league MLS through Barrios (11th minute). Former Dortmund player Axel Witsel increased the lead (47th minute), and after a direct reply from Albert Rusnak (50th minute), Barrios scored the final goal (55th minute) in front of 51,636 spectators.

If Paris doesn't lose to Botafogo FR from Rio de Janeiro later that night in Group B, Seattle will no longer advance. The Sounders also lost their first match of the tournament against the Copa Libertadores winners from Brazil (1:2).

RND/SID