Fluminense vs Borussia Dortmund
The Fluminense party boat on the Hudson was only a small sign of what was to come the following day. Thousands of Tricolor fans descended on MetLife stadium and made it look like we were in Rio. Even stunned the Dortmund faithful. On the pitch, Jobe Bellingham made his debut for the Black-and-Yellow, but at the other end, 40-year-old Thiago Silva put on a vintage performance to captain his team to an important draw. Even at noon on a Tuesday, these clubs gave us a show to remember, and the fans left us with some spectacular frames.
Photography by: Peter Bonilla
Fluminense’s dynamic play wasn’t enough to secure a win against Borussia Dortmund as the two sides battled to a 0-0 draw in their Group F opener at the Club World Cup on Tuesday. While the Brazilian side will feel they deserved more, the heroics of Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel ensured the points were shared at MetLife Stadium.
From the first whistle, Fluminense looked the sharper of the two teams. Fresh off their domestic season, they brought pace and aggression, with Jhon Arias and Agustín Canobbio leading the charge. Arias came close on several occasions, testing Kobel with curling efforts, while Matheus Martinelli and Hercules narrowly missed the target from range.
Dortmund, meanwhile, struggled to settle into the game. Their best chance in the first half came from a swift counterattack when Karim Adeyemi whipped a dangerous ball across the box, but Serhou Guirassy was a step too late to convert.
The second half saw Fluminense continue to press for a breakthrough. Everaldo had the crowd on its feet when he burst into the box, but his decision to pass to Canobbio allowed Kobel to make an easy save. Moments later, Kobel produced a stunning double save to deny Everaldo’s deflected shot and a close-range rebound from Nonato, though the latter was flagged offside.
“We created enough chances to win,” said Fluminense coach Renato Portaluppi. “The team played a great game, and I’m proud of the effort. Now we focus on the next one.”
Dortmund improved after the introduction of Jobe Bellingham, who made his debut in the 60th minute. The younger brother of Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham displayed poise and confidence in midfield, helping the German side regain some control. However, clear chances remained elusive as the game wore on.
Despite Dortmund’s late push, it was Fluminense who created the better opportunities throughout the match. Still, with Kobel in inspired form and Fluminense unable to capitalize on their dominance, the game ended goalless.
Fluminense finished with a 14-7 shot advantage, underscoring their attacking intent. Yet, Dortmund’s experience and Kobel’s brilliance salvaged a valuable point for the Bundesliga side.
“It was a lucky point for us,” admitted Dortmund coach Niko Kovac. “Fluminense is a top team, and they made it tough for us. Now we look to the next games.”
Both teams remain in contention to advance from Group F, which also features Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan Hyundai. Fluminense will return to MetLife Stadium to face Ulsan on Saturday, while Dortmund heads to Cincinnati for a clash with the Sundowns.
With their strong showing against Dortmund, Fluminense proved they’re more than capable of challenging Europe’s best. As the tournament progresses, they’ll look to turn promising performances into decisive victories.
