Fluminense Reaches First Ever Club World Cup Semi-Final

Brazil’s Fluminense secured a historic place in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup semifinals by defeating Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia with a 2–1 victory in Orlando .They became the first of the tournament’s South American sides to reach the last four.

Al-Hilal had eliminated Manchester City in the previous round, positioning themselves as serious contenders. But Fluminense continued to defy expectations with a composed and determined performance. Captain Thiago Silva and striker Matheus Martinelli both praised their team’s resilience

Martinelli Gives Fluminense an Early Lead Before Halftime

Fluminense started the game with confidence, showing good teamwork and ball control. Their hard work paid off just before the halftime whistle. In the 43rd minute, a mistake by Al-Hilal’s defender João Cancelo opened the door for a perfect chance. Cancelo lost the ball near the edge of the penalty box while trying to dribble past two players. Fluminense quickly took advantage of the error.

The ball fell to Matheus Martinelli, one of the youngest players on the field. He didn’t waste any time. With calm composure, he took a single touch and fired a strong left-footed shot straight into the top corner of the net. The ball flew past goalkeeper Bono, who had no chance to stop it.

Al-Hilal Fight Back Strong with Marcos Leonardo’s Equalizer

After going into halftime 1–0, Al-Hilal came out in the second half with pressure . The Saudi Arabian team knew they had to respond quickly if they wanted to stay in the match. Their passing became sharper, and they began putting more pressure on Fluminense’s defense.

That pressure paid off just a few minutes into the second half. In the 52nd minute, a well-placed cross was sent into the Fluminense penalty area. The ball bounced around as both teams fought to clear it or take control. In the middle of that chaos, Marcos Leonardo stayed alert and calm.

He made a quick move to the right place at the right time. The ball dropped perfectly in front of him, and with a simple but smart touch, he headed it into the net. The goalkeeper had no chance to react. Just like that, Al-Hilal made it 1–1, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

Substitute Hércules secures Fluminense’s winning goal

The winning moment came in the 70th minute. Substitute Hércules took his chance brilliantly, controlling a pass from Samuel Xavier and slotting the ball past the keeper .His goal sealed the result and delivered Fluminense their first-ever win over Al-Hilal in this competition.

Fluminense is gonna Face to Chelsea in Semifinal

With their hard-earned win over Al-Hilal, Fluminense have now reached the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup for the very first time in the club’s history. This is a big moment not just for the team, but for Brazilian football as well. Their next challenge will be even tougher they will go up against English club Chelsea, who defeated Palmeiras in their own quarterfinal match.

This upcoming match will not be easy. Chelsea, one of the strongest clubs in Europe, have a long history of winning trophies and competing at the highest level. They have world-class players, a big fan base, and a lot of experience in international tournaments. But Fluminense have shown that they can fight with heart and play smart football.

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