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Fluminense outlast Al Hilal to reach Club World Cup semifinals despite Bounou’s brilliance
Brazilian side Fluminense secures a 2-1 victory
Fluminense of Brazil advanced to the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Despite heroic efforts from Al Hilal’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, the Saudi side fell short in their bid to progress.
The game started with both teams struggling to break each other down. Fluminense eventually found the breakthrough in the 40th minute when Martinelli scored, putting the Brazilian team ahead. Moments later, Al Hilal thought they had won a penalty after Leonardo went down in the box, but the referee overturned the decision following a VAR review.
Al Hilal fights back but falls short
Al Hilal came out stronger in the second half, equalizing in the 51st minute. Defender Kalidou Koulibaly headed the ball into the danger zone, and Leonardo capitalized with a close-range finish.
However, Fluminense regained the lead in the 70th minute when Hercules scored what proved to be the winning goal. Although his initial shot was blocked, Hercules persisted and slotted the ball into the bottom corner, making it 2-1.
Yassine Bounou: The standout performer
Yassine Bounou, Al Hilal’s Moroccan goalkeeper, delivered a stellar performance, keeping his team competitive with several crucial saves. Among his highlights was a one-on-one stop against Fluminense’s star striker, Germán Cano. Without Bounou’s efforts, the scoreline could have been far more lopsided.
Despite his brilliance, Al Hilal’s defense left vulnerabilities that Fluminense exploited, particularly in the build-up to both goals.
A valiant effort, but not enough
Al Hilal showed flashes of quality throughout the match, with standout performances from Leonardo and Sergej Milinković-Savić. However, their efforts were not enough to counter Fluminense’s determined and cohesive display.
Fluminense now moves on to the semifinals, keeping their Club World Cup dreams alive, while Al Hilal exits after a spirited but ultimately unsuccessful campaign.