Fluminense Holds Sundowns, Reaches Club World Cup 16 \ TezzBuzz \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Fluminense held Mamelodi Sundowns to a 0–0 draw, denying the South African club a spot in the Club World Cup knockout round. With the result, Fluminense secured second place in Group F behind Borussia Dortmund. The Brazilian side joins Palmeiras, Flamengo, and Botafogo in the round of 16.
In a tense and hard-fought contest, Brazilian side Fluminense held South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns to a goalless draw on Wednesday, securing their place in the round of 16 at the expanded FIFA Club World Cup. The match, played under warm conditions at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, had high stakes for both teams—but especially for the Sundowns, who needed a win to advance from Group F.
The result saw Fluminense finish second in the group behind Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, who edged Ulsan Hyundai 1–0 in a concurrent match in Cincinnati. Dortmund and Fluminense will now wait to learn their round of 16 opponents, pending the results of remaining group-stage fixtures.
The Sundowns came into the match energized by the prospect of making history. They had never won a Club World Cup match until they defeated Ulsan 1–0 in their tournament opener. That performance was followed by a thrilling, if ultimately unsuccessful, 4–3 loss to Borussia Dortmund, a match that showcased the team’s attacking promise but also revealed defensive vulnerabilities.
Against Fluminense, Sundowns began on the front foot and quickly imposed themselves on the game. Roared on by a vocal crowd—many of them supporting the underdogs—they dominated the first half, holding 68% possession and registering three shots on target. Their midfield pressed high, forcing turnovers and creating several opportunities, though they lacked the final touch needed to break through Fluminense’s organized defense.
Fluminense, on the other hand, entered the match with a strategic advantage: they needed only a draw to progress. As a result, they approached the first half with caution, absorbing pressure and choosing their moments to attack. Their best first-half opportunity came in the 40th minute, when midfielder Nonato fired a long-range effort that forced a diving save.
The Brazilian side was without their veteran defensive anchor, 40-year-old Thiago Silva, who remained on the bench due to muscle soreness. In his absence, the defense held firm, aided by an experienced midfield that helped control the tempo in the second half. Up front, striker Germán Cano replaced Silva in the starting eleven and came agonizingly close to scoring in the 58th minute. Latching onto a sharp pass from Jhon Arias, Cano’s right-footed shot beat the goalkeeper but ricocheted off the post—Fluminense’s best chance of the night.
The game’s pace slowed as the second half wore on, with Fluminense managing the clock and disrupting Sundowns’ rhythm. Despite a late surge from the South African side, including several crosses and attacking set pieces, they could not find the goal that would have kept their hopes alive.
For Fluminense, the draw capped a solid group-stage campaign that included a 0–0 result against Dortmund and a 4–2 win over Ulsan. With this latest performance, they join fellow Brazilian clubs Palmeiras, Flamengo, and Botafogo in the knockout phase, highlighting Brazil’s continued dominance in international club competitions.
Mamelodi Sundowns exit the tournament with a sense of both disappointment and pride. Their spirited performances, especially the narrow defeat to Dortmund and their high-energy showing against Fluminense, earned them admiration from fans and analysts alike. Though their tournament ends in the group stage, the club’s achievements—most notably their first Club World Cup win—signal a rising standard for South African and broader African football on the world stage.
The expanded Club World Cup format has provided more opportunities for clubs outside Europe and South America to test themselves against elite competition. Sundowns took that chance and showed they belong, even if the results didn’t carry them to the next round.
Fluminense now turns its focus to the round of 16, where the competition will intensify. Their defensive resilience and experienced roster give them a strong foundation, but they’ll need more clinical finishing if they hope to advance deeper into the tournament. The coming matches will test their ability to adapt and compete at the highest level in this newly expanded global format.
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