Fluminense FC 4-2 Ulsan HD | Group F
Fluminense goals: Jhon Arias (27), Nonato (66), Juan Freytes (83), Keno (90+2)
Ulsan goals: Lee Jinhyun (37), Um Wonsang (45+3)
Fluminense FC scored three second-half goals to beat Ulsan HD and earn all three points in a wildly entertaining affair at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey.
The loss eliminates Ulsan from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ after they were also beaten in their opening encounter with Mamelodi Sundowns FC.
The match began with Fluminense dominating possession as Ulsan were content to sit back and defend. The Brazilian side finally broke through in the 27th minute, when Jhon Arias curled a free-kick from 24 yards into the top right corner to beat goalkeeper Jo Hyeonwoo for a 1-0 lead.
It was the third free-kick goal of the tournament, with Arias joining CF Pachuca’s Bryan Gonzalez and Inter Miami CF’s Lionel Messi.
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Ulsan equalised with the most surprising counter-attack. They capitalised on a Fluminense giveaway with surgical precision, with Um Wonsang making a long run and sending a hard cross to the far post to Lee Jinhyun, who beat goalkeeper Fabio from the sharpest of angles to make it 1-1. It was Ulsan’s first shot of the game.
Suddenly, the Korea Republic side were on the front foot. They applied pressure on the Fluminense backline and struck again just before the break. After Fluminense failed to completely clear the ball out of their area, Lee swung a cross to Um, whose diving header in the box beat Fabio for a 2-1 lead.
Fluminense levelled in the 66th minute. Milosz Trojak tried to clear Keno’s cross, but the ball stayed in the box and fell to Nonato, who calmly tucked his right-footed strike inside the right post to make it 2-2.
Fluminense regained the lead in the 83rd minute. With a scrambling Ulsan defence unable to clear the ball, substitute German Cano drove a cross to Juan Freytes, whose first-time finish beat Jo for a 3-2 advantage.
Both teams will play their final group match on Wednesday, 25 June. Fluminense will meet Mamelodi Sundowns at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, while Ulsan will take on Borussia Dortmund at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
Quotes
“To me, it was a very good game. I feel sorry for our players. What they did was fantastic. We had a little late hard luck… but I’m very proud of our players… We have no hope to go to the Round of 16, but for our supporters, our fans, we have to fight until the end of the tournament.”
Kim Pangon, Ulsan head coach
Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match
Jhon Arias (Fluminense FC)
