Brazilian club Fluminense booked their place in the round of 16 at the FIFA Club World Cup after a hard-fought 0-0 draw with South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday.
The single point was enough for Fluminense to secure second place in Group F with five points, two behind group winners Borussia Dortmund. The result means all four Brazilian clubs at the tournament—Flamengo, Palmeiras, Botafogo, and Fluminense—have successfully advanced to the knockout stages.
Despite being outplayed for large periods at Hard Rock Stadium, the Rio de Janeiro side held firm. Mamelodi Sundowns, who finish third in the group with four points and are now eliminated, will rue a series of missed opportunities.
The South African team started brightly, controlling possession and creating early chances for Lucas Ribeiro and Tashreeq Matthews, both of whom were denied by Fluminense’s veteran 44-year-old goalkeeper, Fabio.
Fluminense’s best chance came in the 57th minute when striker German Cano’s low volley struck the post.
In front of a sparse but lively crowd of 14,312, a blend of Brazilian chants and South African drum beats provided a festive atmosphere for the contest.
Fluminense will now travel to Charlotte for their round of 16 clash on Monday, where their opponent will be the winner of Group E, which will be decided between River Plate, Inter Milan, or Monterrey.
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