How a Resilient Fluminense Defeated a Dominant Al Hilal in the Club World Cup

The quarter-final clash between Fluminense and Al Hilal at the Club World Cup was a fixture few could have anticipated, especially after both sides faced off against the formidable Internazionale and Manchester City respectively.

Often dubbed ‘the beautiful game’, football has a remarkable tendency to disrupt expectations and weave alternate tales filled with endless opportunities.

Rapid Fire at Camping World Stadium

Stepping onto the pitch at Camping World Stadium, both teams recognised the significance of achieving victory, with the reward being a semi-final showdown against either Chelsea or Palmeiras.

They were a mere 180 minutes away from a coveted place in the final – tantalisingly close yet still distant.

A solemn moment of silence was observed in memory of Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, right before kick-off. Following this poignant tribute, the match commenced at a blistering pace, with both sides, unbeaten in the tournament thus far, keen to establish their dominance early on.

Ruben Neves was once again called upon to take on a central defensive role, playing a hybrid “quarterback” position designed to influence the game through precise passes both through the lines and over the top.

Al Hilal’s intentions were clear as early as the fifth minute, with the ball quickly being shifted wide to the wingers and overlapping full-backs.

In the backbone of Fluminense’s defence, 40-year-old Thiago Silva relied heavily on his wisdom and experience to thwart the efforts of Marcos Leonardo and Malcom.

Tight Midfield Curbs Free-Flowing Play

It was evident that the Brazilians preferred a more measured approach in their attacking play, contrasting sharply with Al Hilal’s swift forward surges.

A congested midfield contributed to a lack of early scoring opportunities at either end, with Moteb Al Harbi demonstrating his industriousness as they approached the ten-minute mark.

By this stage, Al Harbi had already engaged in four one-on-one duels and emerged victorious in each. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who had been energetic since the outset, received the first yellow card for a tactical foul, but Fluminense wasted the subsequent free-kick and corner.

Joao Cancelo and Mohamed Kanno both showcased their skills with an impressive 100% pass accuracy, yet the back five, expertly directed by Silva, proved resolute and difficult to breach.

As the match approached the half-hour mark, both teams seemed to open up, leading to a more enjoyable spectacle, even though the scoreboard remained untouched.

Fluminense could count their blessings as Ignacio made a crucial clearance, diverting the ball away from danger as Kalidou Koulibaly aimed for his second goal from a corner in this tournament.

His 90.9% passing accuracy, alongside engaging in seven duels, highlighted a truly dynamic performance from the 28-year-old.

With just five minutes remaining in the first half, a poorly executed clearance from Cancelo fell to Matheus Martinelli, who made no mistake by unleashing a stunning left-footed strike into the top corner, leaving Yassine Bounou with no chance.

A goal of such calibre demanded celebration and sparked a fire within the game.

Al Hilal, who enjoyed 70.8% possession during the closing stages of the half, surged forward once more. Koulibaly’s thunderous header seemed destined to equalise until Fluminense’s 44-year-old keeper, Fabio, launched himself to his left for an extraordinary save.

VAR Overturns Penalty as Al Hilal Intensify Pressure

In injury time, wind was taken from their sails as Marcos Leonardo was brought down in the area, but the initial penalty decision was reversed after a VAR review, meaning Al Hilal still hadn’t registered a shot on target by the half’s conclusion, with Fluminense leading by the slimmest of margins.

Al Hilal maintained their momentum just after the restart, with Renan Lodi’s shot blocked and the team’s dribble count rising to 11.

Despite their wide-ranging attacking play, Al Hilal struggled to penetrate a compact back line, although Ruben Neves’ cross-shot nearly bore fruit.

From the corner taken by the Portuguese just five minutes into the second half, Koulibaly’s header found its way to Marcos Leonardo, who equalised when it was most deserved.

With this third goal in the initial 15 minutes after the break, Al Hilal showed impressive form, more than any other team in the 2025 Club World Cup.

Possession was relatively balanced, Fluminense holding 46.4% against Al Hilal’s 53.7%, but the atmosphere heightened as the play electrified across the pitch.

Astonishingly, Bounou pulled off a phenomenal save in the 54th minute when faced with a one-on-one against Cano, leaving supporters agape and limiting the Brazilians to just one shot on target while keeping his side in control.

As the match reached the hour mark, it evolved into an enthralling tactical battle, with both teams carefully orchestrating their strategies.

Hercules Puts Fluminense Ahead Against the Run of Play

Al Hilal’s corner count soared, creating numerous headaches for Fluminense, who had begun to retreat defensively.

With only 262 passes attempted halfway through the second period, Fluminense’s chances of breaking forward to secure victory seemed bleak, particularly as Nonato (78.9%) and Samuel Xavier (77.8%) struggled with possession at a pivotal moment.

However, completely against the flow of the game, Hercules intercepted the ball deep in Al Hilal territory and, receiving a pass from Samuel Xavier, unleashed a powerful shot with 20 minutes left to play, marking the fourth time a Fluminense sub has netted in this tournament.

The Brazilians’ resilience was apparent in their 19 clearances, indicative of a ‘backs against the wall’ performance, while Al Hilal players appeared fatigued in the final stages, with Neves and Cancelo collectively losing the ball 26 times.

As the clock wound down, relentless pressure from Al Hilal resulted in a barrage of crosses (31 in total by full-time), with eight of their 14 shots launched from within the box.

Two late penalty appeals could have gone in their favour, yet Fluminense maintained their composure and became the first side to secure a place in the semi-finals.