Club World Cup Round Up Saturday: Dortmund Edge Brave Sundowns, Inter Break Hearts, Fluminense Fight Back

From Cincinnati’s heatwave to injury-time heartbreak in Seattle, the FIFA Club World Cup delivered drama, emotion, and some seriously unpredictable football on Saturday.

Sundowns Stun Early But Dortmund Hold On

Dortmund Survive 7 Goal Thriller Against Determined Sundowns Side, Source: X

It was almost a fairytale in Cincinnati. For a moment, Mamelodi Sundowns looked ready to shake up the world.

An electric solo effort from Lucas Ribeiro handed the South African champions a surprise early lead against Borussia Dortmund in their second Group F clash. But the Bundesliga side clawed back — and then some — in what turned into a seven-goal thriller under sweltering conditions at TQL Stadium.

Sundowns’ Ronwen Williams gifted Dortmund their equaliser with a misplaced pass, and from there, the momentum shifted. Serhou Guirassy continued his goal-scoring streak with a powerful finish, while 18-year-old Jobe Bellingham, younger brother of Jude, made a statement with his debut goal for the German giants.

By the hour mark, it was 4-1 after an own goal by Khuliso Mudau. Game over? Not quite.

With grit and guts, Sundowns clawed two back through Iqraam Rayners and Lebo Mothiba to make it 4-3, keeping their hopes alive heading into the final group fixture.

Dortmund coach Niko Kovac summed it up best: “It felt like a sauna out there. We couldn’t play our best, but the conditions made it a battle.”

Sundowns boss Miguel Cardoso echoed the pride felt back home: “I’m not happy with the result, but I’m proud. The boys gave everything.”

Social media lit up in support, with #Sundowns trending across South Africa as fans hailed the fight, if not the finish.

Inter Break Urawa Hearts with Injury Time Winner

Inter’s Latauro Martinez Breaks Urawa Reds Hearts, Source: X

Meanwhile, in Seattle, it was a gut-punch for Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds.

They had taken a surprise early lead against Inter Milan through Ryoma Watanabe and looked to be holding on. But Lautaro Martinez — doing what Lautaro does — pulled off a cheeky overhead kick to draw things level with just minutes left.

Then, in the 92nd minute, 19-year-old Argentine prodigy Valentin Carboni struck the winner, sending Inter joint-top of Group G with River Plate and leaving Urawa fans in tears.

The clash was watched by a lively, mostly neutral crowd at Lumen Field, many of whom were won over by the Japanese side’s energy and heartbreak.

Fluminense Survive Ulsan Scare to Take Control of Group F

South Korean Side Ulsan HD Deliver Shock Start to Dominate Brazilian Side, Source: X

Fluminense nearly fell victim to a major upset against South Korea’s Ulsan HD in New Jersey.

Despite going ahead early through Jhon Arias’ sublime free-kick, the Brazilian side trailed 2-1 at the break after a quickfire double from Lee Jin-hyun and Um Won-sang.

But the second half told a different story. Nonata equalised just past the hour mark, and Juan Freytes pounced on a loose ball in the 83rd to give Flu the lead. Keno put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time, making it 4-2 and eliminating Ulsan in the process.

The win puts Fluminense level on four points with Dortmund in Group F, with both sides facing off in what promises to be a sizzling final fixture in Miami. A win or draw for the Rio giants will book their spot in the last 16.

The Bigger Picture: What’s at Stake

With the tournament moving into its decisive week, it’s still all to play for. Monterrey remain in contention despite their goalless draw with River Plate, but they’ll need to step it up in their final group game.

For Sundowns, the dream isn’t over just yet. A big result against Fluminense could flip the table — and with the way they’ve played so far, few would bet against a surprise.

What’s Up Next?

Saturday’s Club World Cup fixtures had it all — world-class goals, costly mistakes, brutal heat, and wild comebacks. And the best part? There’s still more to come.

South African fans have every reason to be proud. Their team may have fallen short on the scoreboard, but they stood tall on the world stage.

Source: Aljazeera.com
Read more: “We Belonged on That Pitch”: Mamelodi Sundowns Win Hearts in Brave Dortmund Battle

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