In a thrilling Club World Cup 2025 quarter-final clash at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Brazilian side Fluminense pulled off a stunning 2–1 victory over Saudi giants Al Hilal, booking their place in the semifinals and keeping South American hopes alive.
First-Half Fireworks: Martinelli Opens the Scoring
The match began at a high tempo, with both sides eager to stamp their authority. Fluminense, though considered underdogs, took the game to Al Hilal from the outset. Their pressure paid off in the 40th minute when Matheus Martinelli, capitalized on a defensive lapse to fire home a composed finish and give the Brazilian side a 1–0 lead.
The goal ignited the atmosphere, as Fluminense’s flair and confidence visibly grew, while Al Hilal, packed with international stars, struggled to respond.
Al Hilal Equalize But Miss Chances
Despite a sluggish first half, Al Hilal regrouped after the break. Their equalizer came in the 54th minute through Marcos Leonardo, the Brazilian forward, who curled a brilliant effort past Fluminense keeper Fábio after some intricate buildup play.
Hilal then had the upper hand in possession and nearly took the lead, but Rúben Neves and Malcom squandered clear-cut chances. The Saudi champions appeared poised to turn the game around, but Fluminense’s defense held firm.
Hércules Delivers a Late Knockout Blow
Just as the match seemed headed for extra time, substitute Hércules emerged as the hero for Fluminense. In the 70th minute, he latched onto a loose ball at the edge of the box and rifled a low drive into the bottom corner, sending the Brazilian fans into raptures and the bench into wild celebration.
Al Hilal pressed in the dying minutes, but Fluminense showed resilience and tactical discipline to see out the result.
🙏 Emotional Undertone: Tribute to Jota
The match carried an emotional undercurrent following the tragic death of Portuguese forward Diogo Jota earlier in the week. Al Hilal players João Cancelo and Rúben Neves were visibly moved during a pre-match tribute, with tears flowing during the minute of silence. Both teams wore black armbands in his memory.
