Ruiz scores two as PSG rout Real Madrid 4-0

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (AP):

FABIÁN RUIZ scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) built a three-goal lead in the first 24 minutes and routed Real Madrid 4-0 yesterday, advancing to the Club World Cup final against Chelsea.

Ruiz scored in the sixth minute and Ousmane Dembélé in the ninth following glaring mistakes by defenders Raúl Asencio and Antonio Rüdiger, and Ruiz made it 3-0 to cap a counter. Gonçalo Ramos added a goal in the 87th.

Coming off their first European title, PSG plays for the championship on Sunday.

Real fared no better than Inter Milan, overrun by PSG 5-0 in the Champions League final. The 15-time European champions looked sluggish after travelling to Florida for training between games, and PSG had 76.5 per cent possession in the first half.

A crowd of 77,542 was at MetLife Stadium on a scorching day with a temperature of 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33° Celsius) at kick-off and humidity that made it feel like 101 (38).

Real’s Kylian Mbappe was not a threat in his first game against his former team.

Luka Modrić entered in the 64th in likely his last match for Madrid, his team since 2012. Éder Militão came in at the same time in his first game since tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament on November 9.

PSG surged ahead after Lucas Beraldo’s cross was mis-hit by Raúl Asencio, Thibaut Courtois tipped the ball from Dembélé and Ruiz slammed it into the empty net.

Dembélé then took possession about 40 yards out after a Rüdiger mis-hit, dribbled and slotted past Courtois.

PSG went the length of the field to make it 3-0. Hakimi exchanged passes with Dembélé, then crossed for Ruiz, who maintained control despite Federico Valverde’s challenge and scored from eight yards for his third goal of the tournament.

Madrid’s defence was missing Dean Huijsen, who got a red card on Saturday against Borussia Dortmund, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who had right-leg muscle discomfort.

PSG have earned from a minimum of US$88,435,000 to US$113,815,000 for reaching the final, the amount depending on a participation fee.