Tension at club World Cup
© Imago
Long trembled, clearly won in the end: Fluminense Rio de Janeiro landed the first victory at the club World Cup and replaced Borussia Dortmund as the league leader of Group F. The Brazilians prevailed against Ulsan HD from South Korea with 4: 2 (1: 2) and, thanks to the better goal difference, pushed past the same BVB.
After the zero number of the two clubs in the direct encounter at the start, a remote duel comes to first place on the last matchday of the group phase. The BVB will meet Ulsan, Fluminese on the Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday (9 p.m. /Sat.1 and DAZN). “We have the greatest respect for our opponent,” said Fluminense coach Renato Gaúcho. The South Africans can also get ahead with the third with just one point behind. The winner of Group F will play his round of 16 on July 1st in Atlanta, the group second will have to go in Charlotte on June 30th.
South Korea’s master Uslan was in front of almost 30,000 spectators in the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey after a goal by Jhon Arias (27th), but the game seemed to be turning through goals from Jin-Hyun Lee (37th) and how to turn around /45.+3). But after half -time Nonato (66th), the Argentinian Juan Pablo Freytes (83.) and Keno (90.+2) took care of the victory of the favorite dominated over long distances. During the break there was a thunderstorm: he was “energetic and loud”, reported Gaúcho.
“We played well, shot the goal, but were not as concentrated as we should have done and were left behind. In a game that we could have decided in the first half, we made it difficult,” said Gaúcho. His team came back with a different attitude, bought again and concentrated on work.
Kobel scolds Mamelodi Sundowns after BVB compulsory victory
BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was angry despite the compulsory victory against Mamelodi Sundowns. The BVB goalkeeper croaked in Cincinnati against the South Africans in Cincinnati after the 4: 3 (3: 1). “You can’t say a lot of positive things except for the result,” said the Swiss. “The fact is that we are certainly not allowed to get three goals. The fact is that we are not allowed to get the gates as they fall.”
With the clues to most of the other Dortmund on the difficult weather conditions at well over 30 degrees in the lunchtime, Kobel couldn’t do anything. “It’s summer. It is clear that it is hot. Of course it is easier to walk at 15 degrees and drizzle. But football is also played in summer. We have to be able to deal with it,” complained Kobel.
BVB had already led 4-1 against the South African record champions from Pretoria, but had to tremble at the end. “You have to end such games differently,” criticized coach Niko Kovac, but otherwise did not want to go too hard with his team: “The boys have already left the limit.” Kobel saw this very differently. “Positive is: we scored four goals. That was good. But otherwise there wasn’t much there,” said the 27-year-old. “The positioning was not right. It was similar to that in the first game: too much watching.”
Champions League finalist Inter Milan wins in added time
It is exciting at the club World Cup in Group E. There, River Plate against Monterrey from Mexico did not get beyond a goalless draw. The Argentinians thus missed the early round of round of 16. Now it is against the same pointed Champions League finalists Inter Milan (both 4). The Italians defeated the Japanese representative Urawa Red Diamonds 2-1 (0: 1) through a goal in added time. Ryoma Watanabe, who once played for the second team of FC Ingolstadt in the regional league, brought Urawa early (11th). Striker Lautaro Martínez managed to equalize (78th) before Valentín Carboni scored the winning goal.
Monterrey could also jump to one of the first two places in two points behind the top duo. The Mexicans meet the already eliminated Urawa Red Diamonds.