Club World Cup: Mamelodi Sundowns leave the competition following a draw against Fluminense
Fluminense scraped into the Club World Cup knockout stages with a gritty 0-0 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns, sealing second place in Group F with five points. The Brazilians, often outplayed by the energetic South Africans, survived scares to join fellow countrymen Flamengo, Palmeiras, and Botafogo in the last 16.
Sundowns dominated early, testing 44-year-old Fluminense keeper Fabio, but their wastefulness proved costly. “African teams struggle with finishing,” admitted captain Ronwen Williams after his side bowed out with four points. Fluminense’s German Cano nearly stole victory, hitting the post in the second half.
Despite a sparse crowd of 14,312 in Miami’s cavernous Hard Rock Stadium, the clash pulsed with samba rhythms and vuvuzela buzz.
Coach Renato Gaúcho praised his squad’s resilience: “Sometimes suffering to qualify beats pretty football and defeat.”
Fluminense now face a stern test against River Plate, Inter Milan, or Monterrey in Charlotte—while Sundowns exit, ruing missed chances.
