Borussia Dortmund defeated Ulsan HD 1-0 on Wednesday in the first half of the Club World Cup thanks to a single goal from Daniel Svensson.
Just under 8, 000 people in Cincinnati, including US Vice President JD Vance and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, were present for Dortmund’s second straight victory by a one-goal margin following their 4-3 defeat of Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.
After overcoming Sundowns in a goalless stalemate played at the same time in Miami, it means that Dortmund will advance to the last 16 as Group F champions, while Fluminense will finish in second.
“We can be satisfied,” he says. Coach Niko Kovac, who also plays for Dortmund, said, “I think our performance was better than our first two games.”
This game was played in sweltering mid-afternoon conditions, and he has frequently addressed the tournament about the challenges presented by the searing June heat in the United States.
“We keep saying the same thing,” he said. The boys’ work is incredible. In the stadium, it is 37 degrees Celsius (96.8% Fahrenheit). Kovac called it “unbelievable.”
“I think they are doing a great job, even if you just stand around,” he said. I’ve got a day off now, and I’m hoping the players can get ready for the following game.
With the addition of Karim Adeyemi and Julian Ryerson, Kovac only made two changes to the starting lineup, while Jobe Bellingham kept his place.
On another hot day in Cincinnati, the Bundesliga giants should have won, but Serhou Guirassy was denied by a solid Jo Hyeon-woo save in the 27th minute.
The crucial goal was then scored just after 36 minutes when Bellingham fizzed a volley just over from an Adeyemi cross. The Koreans lost possession of the penalty spot on the edge of their own box before Bellingham beat up Svensson and fired in low on his left foot.
Guirassy, who has a prolific season, should have headed home with a header that went straight at the goalkeeper in stoppage time.
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On the hour mark, Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel was immediately activated to stop Lee Jin-hyun, and Yan Couto did just that, scoring a late winner.
When Group E is over, Kovac’s team will now play their final-16 game against Atlanta on Tuesday. They will learn who their opponents are later on Wednesday.
“We must now leave everything on the pitch.” The stakes are significant. Prestige and money are at stake. I anticipate a rise in quality,” Kovac said.
Fluminense are through, indicating that all four Brazilian teams have advanced past the knockout stage, while Ulsan have three losses from three games.
In Miami, a captain’s cross went wide and across the face of goal late in the first half, and the game was also difficult.
After the break, the Rio de Janeiro side came within striking distance, while Sundowns enjoyed more possession throughout the 90 minutes but were unable to advance in front of a crowd of 14 (312).
The tournament’s four African clubs will not play in the last 16, but Sundowns’ performances give them the confidence they need to go home with their heads high.
“We’re not content,” he declared. Although the players had a clear goal in this match, Miguel Cardoso, the coach of the South African champions, said, “I am very proud of the level they played at.”
We leave and return home with our heads raised because we are much more powerful than we were when we arrived.
Source: Channels TV
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