Fluminense vs Ulsan HD
Thriller. One of the best games of the tournament so far. Ulsan with an incredible effort, and Fluminense with a bit of a scare there. Shocked faces among the crowd when the South Korean side went up. But the comeback felt written. Like a script out of the finest Broadway play. The Tricolor faithful out in New York did what they know best, and they lifted their side past a 2-1 deficit. MetLife erupted once the comeback was complete, and it reaffirmed Flu’s stance as a club with one of the best fanbases in the tournament so far. Unbelievable scenes out of this one.
Photography by: Kyros Morales
Fluminense FC battled back from a halftime deficit to overwhelm Ulsan HD 4-2 on Saturday at MetLife Stadium, a result that kept the Brazilian side’s knockout stage hopes alive and ended Ulsan’s Club World Cup journey.
Despite early dominance in possession, Fluminense trailed 2-1 at the break after a pair of swift counterattacks by the resilient South Korean squad. However, second-half goals from Nonato, Juan Freytes, and Keno turned the tide for the Copa Libertadores champions, who now sit atop Group F alongside Borussia Dortmund.
Fluminense opened the scoring in the 27th minute through a moment of brilliance from Jhon Arias. The Colombian curled a free kick from 25 yards into the top corner, igniting the predominantly Brazilian crowd of 29,321.
However, Ulsan struck back in clinical fashion. In the 37th minute, Um Won-sang’s blistering run down the right flank ended with a perfect cross to Lee Jin-hyun, who finished sharply from a tight angle. Deep into first-half stoppage time, the duo reversed roles, with Lee’s pinpoint cross finding Um for a diving header to give Ulsan a 2-1 lead.
Fluminense head coach Renato Gaúcho admitted afterward that his halftime speech was direct: “We lost focus and paid the price, but the players knew what was at stake and responded brilliantly.”
Fluminense equalized in the 66th minute as substitute Nonato capitalized on a defensive mishap, calmly slotting home from close range. From there, the Brazilian side controlled the tempo, while Ulsan’s attacks faltered after star winger Um was forced off injured in the 71st minute.
The breakthrough came in the 83rd minute when Juan Freytes buried a loose ball following a corner to put Fluminense ahead. Keno added a fourth in stoppage time, heading home to seal the victory.
For Ulsan, the defeat marked the end of their tournament. Despite flashes of brilliance, including two moments of magic from Lee and Um, the K League champions couldn’t withstand Fluminense’s second-half pressure.
“We gave it everything,” Ulsan midfielder Gustav Ludwigson said. “We played a very good team, and sadly, we couldn’t keep up in the second half. But I’m proud of how we fought.”
With the victory, Fluminense heads into a pivotal clash with Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday in Miami. A win or draw would secure their place in the knockout stage. Ulsan, now eliminated, will face Borussia Dortmund in Cincinnati, playing for pride in their final group match.
As the Club World Cup continues, Fluminense’s comeback showcased their resilience, while Ulsan’s spirited effort reminded fans of the unpredictability and drama that defines this global competition.
