Fluminense fought tooth and nail to grind out a narrow 2-1 win against Al Hilal in the Club World Cup quarterfinals. This victory is a huge accomplishment for the Brazilian squad. The four-hour match played on Friday, where Rio de Janeiro’s Fluminense proved their strength and fighting spirit, quickly turned disappointing losses into joyous wins.
The match opened with a moment of silence that paid tribute to Fluminense, one that would create a scene perhaps unthinkable in today’s toxic footballing climate. Matheus Martinelli put Fluminense in front in the 40th minute with a brilliant strike, beating Al Hilal’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou from approximately 15 yards away. When the 23-year-old shot that curled into the top right corner, all hopes of an early breakthrough were dashed.
Al Hilal came back with venom, searching for the equalizer. Fluminense’s keeper, Fabio, was the hero with a key save. He dove to his left to parry Kalidou Koulibaly’s thumping header around the post. It was this defensive effort that allowed Fluminense to maintain their lead going into the halftime break.
In the second half, it was Al Hilal who found the equalizer, ramping up the pressure on Fluminense. The Brazilian side continued to demonstrate their physical attitude. It would be Hercules to score again though, and in the 70th minute Hercules scored his second goal in as many second-half appearances, restoring their lead. Hercules featured some of the best technique you will ever see from the first touch. He cut space and then smashed a right-footed shot home into the bottom left corner.
Renato Portaluppi, Fluminense’s head coach, expressed pride in his players post-match, both for their show of artistry and their refusal to crumble under pressure. He recognized the heavy adversities they had to deal with and was very happy with how his staff responded when put to the test.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult game, but I am so pleased with the way my players reacted,” – Renato Portaluppi
Portaluppi further spoke about Hercules’s performance as a way of underlining his faith in the player.
“I told him just to keep doing what he has to do. He would have the opportunity to score, and when it came, he took it.” – Renato Portaluppi
The win represents a historic occasion for Fluminense as it was the club’s first-ever match with Al Hilal. As one of the semifinalists, they will next meet the victors of the quarterfinal match between Palmeiras and Chelsea. Fluminense, who began the tournament as one of the largest long shots. Now, they have proven those expectations wrong and proven their potential on the world stage.
Fluminense come into their next match looking to build on momentum and a successful debut. They will want to continue using this positive momentum, continuing their journey with the Club World Cup. The team’s devotion and collaboration has stunned both spectators and experts. Now as we reach the quarter-finals of this prestigious tournament, they have proven themselves to be a worthy dark-horse contender.
