Bellingham Derby Denied as Dortmund Edge Monterrey Amid Drama and Controversy
What a match it was in Atlanta — Borussia Dortmund scraped through to the Club World Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Monterrey, but the headlines are as much about what didn’t happen as what did. One of the tournament’s most anticipated potential storylines — the Bellingham brothers facing off for the first time in a competitive fixture — has been snatched away by a moment of recklessness.
Jobe Bellingham, younger brother of Real Madrid’s Jude, picked up a second yellow card in the tournament — a completely avoidable one — just 27 minutes into the match. With Dortmund already 2-0 up thanks to two lethal finishes from Serhou Guirassy, Jobe chased down Monterrey’s Nelson Deossa in a harmless area of the pitch and lunged in late. The referee didn’t hesitate: yellow card. And with that, Jobe’s hopes of lining up opposite Jude in the next round were over. You could see it instantly on his face — regret, frustration, devastation. This was more than just a booking; it was the end of a dream, at least for now.
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Jobe’s suspension was confirmed, and despite Dortmund surviving Monterrey’s second-half resurgence, the match left a bittersweet taste. Monterrey fought back impressively, with German Berterame pulling a goal back early in the second half and nearly grabbing a second — only to be ruled offside. The energy in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium shifted dramatically, with the crowd, heavily skewed toward Monterrey, roaring with belief. At one point, even neutral fans were chanting “¡SÃ se puede!”
But it wasn’t just football making headlines. The match was also tainted by repeated homophobic chants from some Monterrey supporters, directed at Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel during his goal kicks. FIFA’s anti-discrimination message was eventually read out over the stadium speakers, a stark reminder of the work still to be done in eradicating abuse from the sport. Though the match wasn’t stopped, it came close — and the spotlight on FIFA’s protocols intensified yet again.
Still, from a footballing standpoint, the story of the night was Guirassy. The Guinean striker continues to be Dortmund’s difference-maker, netting his 36th and 37th goals of the season. His movement, composure, and finishing were clinical — and his partnership with Karim Adeyemi looked increasingly fluid. If Dortmund are to go further, Guirassy will be the man leading the charge.
Now, with Real Madrid awaiting in the quarter-finals, Dortmund will need every bit of quality they have to progress. Jude Bellingham will be there. Jobe, unfortunately, won’t. And for all the tactical intrigue and individual brilliance on display, the emotional arc of this match will be remembered most for the reunion that never happened.
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