Dortmund and Fluminense Play Goalless Draw in Club World Cup

Borussia Dortmund and Brazil’s Fluminense played a 0–0 draw in a Group F match of the Club World Cup on Wednesday morning at MetLife Stadium near New York.

Fluminense, the 2023 Copa Libertadores champion, looked more dangerous in attack throughout the game. In the first half, John Arias had a strong shot blocked by Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. A shot from Matheus Martinelli also went just wide.

Led by 40-year-old captain Thiago Silva, Fluminense created threats on counterattacks. In the second half, Agustin Canobbio got a great chance but shot straight at Kobel. Toward the end, Everaldo’s shot was again saved well by Kobel.

Dortmund, who finished fourth in the Bundesliga last season, struggled to make an impact. Their only clear chance came from a long-range effort by Niklas Sule near the end of the match.

Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said, “It was a tough game, as expected. Fluminense is very strong in ball possession. The first half was especially difficult for us. We improved a bit in the second half, and we’re lucky to get a point.”

Other Brazilian teams have also performed well. Flamengo beat Tunisia’s Esperance 2–0 on Monday and will now face Chelsea. Palmeiras played a 0–0 draw with Porto, and South American champions Botafogo beat Seattle Sounders 2–1 on Sunday.

Dortmund will now play their second group match against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. Sundowns will also face Ulsan HD from South Korea in Florida.

Coach Kovac added, “The field wasn’t easy, and the humidity was tough. The Brazilian players are used to this weather, but for us, it was tiring. Still, we’re happy with the point.”