Draw not enough for Mamelodi Sundowns in nervy FIFA Club World Cup duel with Fluminense

South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns could not quite do enough on Wednesday to qualify for the Round of 16 out of Group F at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after battling to a 0-0 draw with Fluminense in Miami, Florida.

Sundowns got off to a strong start but in the end, the excellently organized Fluminense defense produced a riddle that was too difficult for Masandawana to solve.

The best opportunity of the match for Sundowns arrived during their strong start. Moments after testing Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio from distance, Lucas Ribeiro’s excellent pass set up Tashreeq Matthews for a 1v1 situation but 44-year-old Fabio closed down the angle well and denied Matthews’ first-time effort.

Opportunities dried up for Sundowns over the course of the match and Fluminense came close on a couple of occasions. In the 36th minute, Colombian playmaker Jhon Arias was played in down the right flank but there was nobody in the area to finish from his dangerous low cross.

Close to the hour mark, Fluminense came closest when Arias embarked on a long run down the right wing and his cross found German Cano. The veteran striker’s volley had Sundowns keeper Ronwen Williams well beaten but the ball went off the foot of the post and wide.

But in the end neither team could produce a breakthrough. Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso attempted to spark the attack by bringing on substitutes Arthur Sales, Jayden Adams and Peter Shalulile but the quality was not enough to find a way past the formidable Fluminense defense which made it as difficult as possible.

After eight minutes of second half stoppage time, the full time whistle arrived to disappointment for Sundowns and their supporters after their Brazilian opponents successfully killed the match off. Sundowns finish in third place in Group F, one point behind Fluminense and three behind Group F winners Borussia Dortmund who defeated Ulsan HD by a 1-0 score in the other group match.

Fluminense will face the group winners from Group E, likely to be either River Plate or Inter Milan, in the Round of 16 while Borussia Dortmund will face the Group E runners-up.

Final Group F Table