Brazil’s Fluminense advanced to the semi-finals of the Club World Cup on Friday in Orlando, Florida, defeating Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal 2-1 to extend their incredible run.
Players and supporters observed a minute’s silence before the game started in remembrance of Diogo Jota, a Portuguese forward for Liverpool, and his younger brother Andre Silva, who both lost their lives in a vehicle accident on Thursday.
Before Al-Hilal responded with a goal from Marcus Leonardo after the interval, the tournament’s underdogs took the lead through Matheus Martinelli in the first half.
However, Fluminense resisted and took the lead again in the 70th minute thanks to Hercules, giving them a remarkable victory over Al-Hilal in their maiden encounter.
The Brazilian team, which started the competition as one of the heavy favourites, will now take on the victor of Palmeiras vs. Chelsea, the other quarterfinal matchup.
When Gabriel Fuentes rolled the ball to Martinelli, who wonderfully picked out the far post with a left-footed shot into the top right corner, Fluminense took the lead after Joao Cancelo failed to clear his line.
A rising Kalidou Koulibaly headed the ball towards goal during first-half stoppage time, but Fabio, who was fully extended, swatted it away with his left hand to maintain Fluminense ahead.
Al-Hilal started the second half brightly and equalised after Leonardo’s legs were struck by a cushioned header from a wide-open Koulibaly. Leonardo immediately repositioned and scored from close range.
The referee quickly pointed to the spot when Fluminense’s Samuel Xavier appeared to have tripped Leonardo nearby, but a VAR review determined that it was “normal football contact” and the ruling was overturned.
In the 55th minute, German Cano burst free and tried to take the ball around Yassine Bounou, but the Moroccan custodian was able to push the ball away, almost giving Fluminense the lead again.
Following halftime, Hercules, who had scored from the bench in the team’s victory over Inter Milan in the round of 16, replaced Martinelli and scored again after a superb touch into the area and a shot into the bottom corner.