A balmy evening at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta set the scene for a pulsating Club World Cup quarter-final between South America’s Fluminense and Saudi giants Al-Hilal. Chasing their first world title, Fluminense combined veteran leadership with youthful flair, while Al-Hilal sought to prove the exponential growth of Asian football on American soil. Intensity never dipped in this 2–1 thriller, where VAR drama, tactical battles and moments of individual brilliance wrote a match worthy of its global stage.
Key Moments
- 40’ | Matheus Martinelli opens the scoring with a sensational curling left-foot strike from 25 yards, catching Bounou off his line.
- 45+2’ | A penalty is awarded to Al-Hilal after Marcos Leonardo falls under Samuel Xavier’s challenge, only for VAR to overturn it when replays show minimal contact.
- 51’ | Kalidou Koulibaly meets Rúben Neves’s corner with a towering header, flicking the ball onto Leonardo, who volleys home to level.
- 54’ | Yassine Bounou thwarts Germán Cano in a one-on-one with a sprawling save, keeping Al-Hilal alive.
- 70’ | Super-sub Hercules pounces on a loose ball inside the box and slots low past Bounou to restore Fluminense’s lead.
- Pre-kick-off | A minute’s silence honors Fluminense legends Diogo Jota and André Silva, adding a poignant touch before kick-off.
Tactical Analysis
Fluminense (3-5-2, Renato Gaúcho)
- Defensive Solidity: Thiago Silva marshals a back three, winning aerial duels and organizing teammates into a narrow block.
- Wing-back Impact: Samuel Xavier and Gabriel Fuentes stretch play wide, while Diogo Ignácio’s 90.9% pass accuracy and seven duels won kept transitions fluid.
- Rapid Transitions: Late midfield runs from Martinelli and Hercules exploited the spaces behind Al-Hilal’s high line.
Al-Hilal (4-2-3-1, Simone Inzaghi)
- Possession Focus: Rúben Neves and Mohamed Kanno aimed to dictate tempo but found Fluminense’s block tough to breach.
- Width from Full-backs: João Cancelo and Renan Lodi combined for perfect early passing stats, yet their crosses lacked precision.
- Late Pressure: Three corners in the final 15 minutes demonstrated intent, but the decisive final ball was missing.
Manager Quotes
Renato Gaúcho, Fluminense coach
“I’m thrilled by my team’s reaction. Thiago Silva isn’t just a player—he’s a coach on the field, bringing calm and leadership.”
Simone Inzaghi, Al-Hilal coach
“We deserved more tonight, but I’m proud of how my players fought. This tournament shows how far we’ve come.”
Player Performances
- Matheus Martinelli: Engine of the midfield, opener a masterpiece of technique and timing.
- Hercules: Impact substitute whose composure under pressure delivered the winner.
- Yassine Bounou: Kept Al-Hilal alive with two world-class saves.
- Thiago Silva: Veteran presence, won every aerial duel and guided the defense.
- Marcos Leonardo: Constant threat in behind, equaliser marked his aerial prowess.
- Kalidou Koulibaly: Air supremacy, his header assisted the leveller.
Match Statistics
- Possession: Fluminense 46.4% – Al-Hilal 53.6%
- Goals: Fluminense 2 – Al-Hilal 1
- Shots on Target: Fluminense 3 – Al-Hilal 5
- Key Pass Accuracy: Diogo Ignácio 90.9% – João Cancelo 100%
- Duels Won: Diogo Ignácio 7 – Salem Al-Harbi 4
- Corners: Fluminense 4 – Al-Hilal 11
What’s Next
Fluminense now awaits the Chelsea vs Palmeiras winner in the semi-final at MetLife Stadium on July 8, where an all-Brazilian showdown could be on the cards. Al-Hilal depart with heads held high, their performances signalling a bright future for Saudi football on the world stage.
