Results, video, highlights, Dortmund vs Fluminense, River Plate defeat Urawa Reds, football news

Borussia Dortmund were held to a 0-0 draw by Fluminense at the Club World Cup on Wednesday AEST, as Brazilian teams maintained their unbeaten record so far in the competition.

Rio de Janeiro powerhouses Fluminense were the more dangerous team throughout the Group F game played at the Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, just outside New York City.

However, Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel turned a Jhon Arias shot around the post in the first half, before Matheus Martinelli drilled an effort narrowly wide.

Fluminense – captained by 40-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea defender Thiago Silva – were a threat on the break throughout and should have scored at the end of a counter midway into the second half, but Agustin Canobbio shot straight at Kobel.

The Dortmund goalkeeper then produced a fine save low down to deny Everaldo as the match ended in stalemate.

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“We saw it was a tough game as we expected. Fluminense is a top team, very ball-possession based,” Dortmund coach Niko Kovac told broadcaster DAZN.

“They played very good. We had some difficulties, especially in the first half. In the second half I would say it was better but overall it was a lucky point for us.”

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Fluminense qualified for the tournament by virtue of their triumph in the Copa Libertadores in 2023.

Their performance against a European heavyweight, UEFA Champions League finalists last year, is further evidence that Brazilian teams can hope to make a real impact in FIFA’s new-look competition.

Their great rivals Flamengo beat Esperance of Tunisia 2-0 on Monday and face Chelsea next.

Palmeiras drew 0-0 with Porto in their opening game while Botafogo, the reigning Brazilian and South American champions, defeated Seattle Sounders of MLS 2-1 on Sunday.

Dortmund, who gave a debut off the bench to teenage English midfielder Jobe Bellingham following his recent arrival from Sunderland, did not seriously threaten until a late Niklas Suele long-ranger.

Kovac, whose team finished fourth in the Bundesliga, insisted the conditions had a significant impact on the game.

“The pitch isn’t so easy for us. I think the humidity also wasn’t so easy for all the players, although the Brazilians are more used to it,” he said.

“It was hard for us, we were running a lot, but overall we can live with a point.” The Germans will hope to get their first win when they play Mamelodi Sundowns next.

Sundowns, of South Africa, take on Ulsan HD of South Korea in the day’s other Group F match in Orlando.

Elsewhere, the Club World Cup match between Ulsan and Mamelodi Sundowns was delayed due to thunderstorms.

RIVER PLATE EASE PAST URAWA

River Plate overcame a spirited Urawa Red Diamonds 3-1 on Tuesday to make a strong start in Club World Cup Group E.

The Argentine side overpowered their Japanese opponents at Lumen Field under the Seattle sun, in an entertaining battle.

Under 12,000 fans attended the clash at the 69,000-capacity stadium but those who were there, many travelling from Japan and Argentina, created a vibrant atmosphere at both ends of the stadium.

Marcelo Gallardo’s River started the stronger and took the lead when striker Facundo Colidio powered a header home from former Sevilla defender Marcos Acuna’s cross.

The Red Diamonds played their way into the match and River goalkeeper Franco Armani was forced into an excellent save from Yusuke Matsuo, although he was offside.

New Real Madrid signing Franco Mastantuono almost created a second for River, with the 17-year-old teeing up Nacho Fernandez, but the midfielder’s drive flew narrowly off target.

The Argentine, who will join Spanish giants Madrid after the tournament, was otherwise quieter than expected.

The Red Diamonds, who won the Asian Champions League in 2022 to qualify as the only Japanese team at the tournament, came undone at the start of the second half.

Marius Hoibraaten sent a foolish back-header towards goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa, without noticing Sebastian Driussi sneaking in behind.

The striker bravely nodded home past the helpless stopper but hurt himself as he fell and had to be replaced.

Matsuo pulled the Red Diamonds back into the game from the penalty spot after Acuna’s ungainly mistimed barge on Takuro Kaneko, sending Armani the wrong way.

Maximiliano Meza put the game to bed for River with a header from Acuna’s corner after he was left unmarked.

Elsewhere in Group E Champions League runners-up Inter Milan face Mexican team Monterrey later Tuesday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

SUNDOWNS EDGE ULSAN AFTER WEATHER DELAY

Mamelodi Sundowns got off to a winning start at the Club World Cup with a 1-0 victory over South Korean side Ulsan HD in a match delayed by a weather warning and played before largely empty stands.

The South African side went top of Group F in front of a crowd given as 3412 after Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense drew 0-0 earlier.

A weather warning pushed back kick-off by just over an hour for one of the less enticing group clashes in the expanded FIFA tournament, which has so far not succeeded in filling grounds for every match.

However, those who were in attendance were party to an engaging battle. Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso’s Mamelodi have won the South African top flight for eight consecutive seasons but finished as runners-up in the CAF Champions League final earlier in June.

They claimed victory through Iqraam Rayners’ first-half goal.

“I think the first half was very beautiful, a lot of control… we didn’t get the second goal and the pressure comes,” said Cardoso.

“But I think my players made a wonderful job, we are very proud, (it was) the first victory of an African team in the tournament.”

Cardoso handed Themba Zwane his first start since September after injury, against Ulsan, who qualified through AFC confederation rankings.

Nicknamed ‘The Brazilians’ because of their bright yellow shirts, akin to those of the five-time World Cup winners, Sundowns players showed some flair on the ball in the opening stages.

However it was Ulsan who should have taken the lead, when their Brazilian striker Erick Farias fired a fine chance just over the angle of post and bar.

Mamelodi thought they had taken the lead after the half-hour mark when Rayners bundled home from a corner, but the ball went in off his arm and it was disallowed.

However the South Africa international was not to be denied and he stroked his team in front after Lucas Ribeiro set him up.

Rayners had another goal disallowed for offside before the break as he picked away at the Ulsan defence.

Teboho Mokoena almost doubled Mamelodi’s lead with a dipping free-kick but Jo Hyeon-woo tipped his effort to safety.

The South Koreans made inroads in the second half and forced Mamelodi back into their own territory in search of an equaliser.

Tashreeq Matthews broke loose on the counter for Mamelodi and drilled a good opportunity over the bar, but his team were still able to become the first African side to win a game at the tournament.

It was also their first victory in any version of the Club World Cup, after they lost both their matches in their only prior appearance, in 2016.

39YO LEGEND RAMOS GIVES INTER A SCARE

The 39-year-old Spanish great Sergio Ramos scored as Monterrey held Inter Milan 1-1 in a hard-fought FIFA Club World Cup Group E opener in Pasadena on Tuesday.

Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez scored a well-worked equaliser to cancel out Ramos’s opener for the Mexican side in front of 40,311 fans at the Rose Bowl.

Inter, playing their first game since being thrashed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, were left ruing their failure to turn their dominance of possession and territory into goals.

But the draw was a boost for Ramos and Monterrey, who face Argentina’s River Plate in their next game on Saturday.

“When you don’t get all three points you’re never entirely happy,” Ramos, the former Spain and Real Madrid defender, said.

“But one point is better than no point.

“They were a tough opponent and have just played in the final of the Champions League. We were a little bit nervous but in the second half we stayed organised and kept the ball better.

“Now we need to think about the next game.”

Inter coach Cristian Chivu said his team had struggled to break down a Monterrey team who sat deep for long periods.

“We played well in the first half even though we went behind,” Chivu said.

“We could have attacked better in the second half. It’s not easy to play against a very low block.” Chivu, in his first match in charge after the departure of Simone Inzaghi, denied the Champions League finalists had underestimated the Mexicans.

“We respect every team we play and we knew what kind of team they were, we tried to do our best,” he said.

“Sometimes you get the best out of it, sometimes you don’t. We created a lot of chances. Football’s not won on paper.”

The Italians were in complete control almost from the kick-off, Benjamin Pavard the first to threaten with an eighth-minute shot that flew over the bar.

Matteo Darmian should have done better in the 22nd minute but shot over after clever work down the left from Nicolo Barella.

Yet despite the early onslaught, Inter were rocked in the 25th minute when Monterrey scored from one of their few forays into the Italians’ half.

Midfielder Oliver Torres swung a corner in from the right and Ramos — who had lost Francesco Acerbi on the edge of the six-yard box — steered his header into the bottom corner.

Inter were soon back on the offensive and only a point-blank save by Monterrey goalkeeper Esteban Andrada from Sebastiano Esposito prevented an equaliser.

Martinez also went close after 36 minutes, and Inter had a strong penalty appeal when Pavard’s header struck Ramos on the arm inside the area.

VAR found in favor of Ramos and Monterrey escaped.

Three minutes later Inter drew level with a wonderfully worked free-kick routine.

Albanian international Kristjan Asllani shaped to shoot from 25 yards out but instead flighted a delicate chip behind the Monterrey defence.

Brazilian international Carlos Augusto timed his run to perfection and squared into the path of Martinez, who tapped in for 1-1.

Monterrey almost regained the lead against the run of play on 64 minutes, Sergio Canales unleashing a low shot that cannoned off the post.

Inter had a Martinez goal ruled out for offside moments later as the Italians continued to threaten.

But it was Monterrey who came closest to grabbing a winner in stoppage time when Colombian midfielder Nelson Deossa got behind the Inter defence but could only shoot into the side netting.