Daijiworld Media Network- Miami
Miami, Jun 26: German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund secured their place in the last 16 of the Club World Cup after edging past South Korea's Ulsan HD 1-0 on Wednesday, courtesy of a first-half strike by Daniel Svensson. The narrow win sees Dortmund finish top of Group F, while Brazil’s Fluminense also qualified behind them following a goalless draw against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
Played in sweltering heat at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, the match saw a modest turnout of just over 8,000 spectators, among them US Vice President JD Vance and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Despite the conditions, Dortmund maintained their winning form after their thrilling 4-3 victory over Sundowns in their opening match.
“It’s incredible what the players are doing in such heat. It was 36 degrees outside and 43 degrees in the stadium,” remarked Dortmund coach Niko Kovac. “But the boys are giving it everything. We now have a day off, and I hope the team recovers well for the next match in Atlanta.”
Dortmund made only two changes to their starting XI, with Karim Adeyemi and Julian Ryerson featuring, while youngster Jobe Bellingham retained his spot. The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Ulsan’s defence gave away possession near their box—Bellingham pounced and squared the ball for Svensson, who calmly slotted it past the keeper with his left foot.
Despite dominating the match, Dortmund missed several chances to extend their lead. Serhou Guirassy had a close-range header saved in stoppage time, and Yan Couto almost made it 2-0 late in the second half. On the other end, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel denied Lee Jin-hyun to preserve Dortmund’s lead.
Meanwhile, over in Miami, Fluminense held off a spirited Sundowns side in another match played under tough weather conditions. Though the South African champions dominated possession and created chances, they failed to find the back of the net. Fluminense had opportunities too—Jhon Arias came close in the first half, and striker German Cano tested the Sundowns defence after the break.
The result saw Fluminense go through alongside Dortmund, ensuring all four Brazilian teams in the tournament progressed to the knockout stages. On the contrary, the exit of Sundowns meant no African club made it to the last 16.
Despite the disappointment, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso remained proud of his side. “We are not happy—we had a clear goal to win—but I am extremely proud of the level at which the players performed,” said Cardoso. “We leave stronger than we came.”
Dortmund will now head to Atlanta for their Round of 16 clash next Tuesday, with their opponent to be determined once Group E concludes. Coach Kovac stressed the importance of the next stage: “Now the real test begins. It’s about prestige, it’s about money, and I expect the quality to rise significantly.”