Fluminense made it a perfect four-for-four among Brazilian sides at the FIFA Club World Cup, clinching their place in the last 16 with a 0-0 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Fábio made three saves to keep a clean sheet and seal a second-place finish in Group F for Fluminense behind Borussia Dortmund, who earned a 1-0 win over Ulsan HD in a simultaneous match in Cincinnati, Ohio.
But in truth, the Rio de Janeiro side looked comfortable for most of the final hour, knowing a point would be enough to seal a meeting Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina, against the Group E winner. That team will be decided later Wednesday, with Inter Milan, River Plate and CF Monterrey all in the running.
Mamelodi Sundowns became the last of four African representatives in the competition eliminated, though Wydad AC still have a match left to play.
They were held scoreless for the first time in the tournament after nearly coming back from three goals down in their 4-3 defeat to Dortmund on Saturday.
Wednesday’s match followed Fluminense’s Brazilian colleagues Palmeiras, Botafogo and Flamengo all sealing their place in the last 16 earlier in the group stage.
Meanwhile, Sundowns entered as the final hope for an African representative in the knockout phase, with Al Ahly, Esperance de Tunis and Wydad AC all eliminated.
But Sundowns had the first quality chance when Tashreeq Matthews ran onto Lucas Ribeiro Costa’s defense-splitting diagonal ball into the penalty area.
Fabio sprung quickly from his line and ultimately smothered Matthews’ eighth-minute effort.
Fluminense grew into the game later in the half. Jhon Arias dragged an effort from the right side of the penalty wide of the left post in the 36th minute. Five minutes later, Nonato fired a half-volley wide of the same upright following a set piece.
After the break, German Cano reached Arias’ excellent dipping cross to the near post. But his 58th-minute volley struck the woodwork as Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams could only look on. Williams finished with no saves as none of Fluminense’s shot attempts were on frame.
–Field Level Media
