Brazil’s Fluminense secured a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal on Friday, thanks to a decisive goal by substitute Hercules in the 70th minute, booking their place in the Club World Cup semi-finals.
Matheus Martinelli gave the Rio-based side the lead just before half-time with a powerful left-foot strike. However, Al Hilal responded early in the second half as Marcos Leonardo, their Brazilian forward, equalised six minutes after the break.
The winning goal came from Hercules after a blocked shot fell kindly to him inside the box, allowing him to fire past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and spark delight among the 43,091 fans in attendance.
Fluminense could face a fellow Brazilian team in the semi-finals if Palmeiras overcome Chelsea in the tournament’s other quarter-final match on Friday.
Al Hilal entered the quarter-finals unbeaten in the group stage, including a shock 4-3 victory over Manchester City and a draw against Real Madrid, cementing their status as a formidable force on the world stage.
Before kick-off, a moment of silence was held to honour Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who tragically died in a car crash in Spain earlier this week. Al Hilal’s squad included two of Jota’s Portugal teammates, Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo.
The first half was a tight contest with limited chances until Martinelli opened the scoring, spinning away from his marker before unleashing a shot that flew past Bounou. Al Hilal’s closest chance came from a header by Kalidou Koulibaly, which was superbly saved by the experienced Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio.
A controversial moment arose when referee Danny Makkelie initially awarded a penalty to Al Hilal for a foul on Marcos Leonardo, only to overturn the decision after video review showed no contact.
After the break, Al Hilal’s persistence paid off with Koulibaly assisting Leonardo’s equaliser. The Saudis pressed for a winner, but Fluminense’s German Cano was denied by Bounou after a swift counter-attack.
The match was decided when Hercules capitalised on a loose ball inside the box to score the winning goal. Despite intense pressure and numerous corners from Al Hilal in the closing stages, Fluminense held firm.
Fluminense coach Renato Gaucho praised his side’s collective effort and work ethic. He also singled out captain Thiago Silva for his calm leadership and vital role in withstanding Al Hilal’s second-half assault.
Al Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi lamented his side’s narrow defeat but acknowledged Fluminense’s strong organisation and quality throughout the tournament.
