Fluminense advances with draw vs. Mamelodi Sundowns
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
Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Pep Guardiola approves Gianluigi Donnarumma signing as agent comments on Manchester City talks
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola considers Paris Saint-Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma as one of the best goalkeepers in the world amid interest in the Italy international from the Etihad Stadium, as per a new report. Donnarumma will leave Paris Saint-Germain in the coming weeks after a long-standing contract standoff with the club's hierarchy culminated in a decision to offload the 26-year-old as he enters the final year of his deal at the Parc des Princes. Three months on from spearheading the Parisiens to their maiden UEFA Champions League title, Donnarumma has been shown the door in an abrupt manner that has drawn criticism from the Italy international and his agent Enzo Raiola. Manchester City are believed to be the frontrunners in the race to sign the Paris Saint-Germain star, who is entering the prime of his career and will prove to be one of acquisitions of the summer transfer window for the club that secure his signature. After months of speculation around the future of Ederson, the 31-year-old confirmed in a few interviews in July that he expects to stay at the Etihad Stadium and honour the final year of his current contract. However, it is no secret that the Brazil international wants a new challenge and after failing to engineer a transfer to the Saudi Pro League last summer, Ederson is understood to have agreed personal terms with Galatasaray as we enter the final few weeks of the transfer window. Manchester City consider Ederson, who joined the Blues from Benfica in 2017, as part of their plans for the 2025-26 campaign, but will allow a sale should the goalkeeper inform the club he wants to leave and an acceptable offer make its way to the Etihad Stadium. City have already overhauled their goalkeeping department this summer with the additions of Marcus Bettinelli and James Trafford following the departure of Scott Carson, with Stefan Ortega Moreno also expected to complete a permanent transfer in the coming weeks to solidify his place as Germany's number one ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In an appearance on BBC 5 Live Sport this week, Spanish journalist and author Guillem Balague has provided a peak through the curtain into Pep Guardiola's outlook on Donnarumma as Manchester City await a resolution on Ederson's future. Balague has indicated that Guardiola considers Donnarumma amongst the best three goalkeepers in world football, which reflects a seal of approval from the Manchester City manager for director of football Hugo Viana to strengthen the club's pursuit of the Italian if and when Ederson leaves in this window. Guardiola is understood to have held a direct conversation with Donnarumma, who is believed to have agreed personal terms to move to the Etihad Stadium should Manchester City follow through their initial interest with a formal offer to Paris Saint-Germain for the 26-year-old. Ederson remains Manchester City's number one for the timebeing, though it will be interesting to see if the Brazilian starts in goal in the Premier League opener against Wolves at the weekend – after James Trafford made his first start for his boyhood club against Palermo last week since returning from Burnley in a £27 million transfer this summer. Speaking to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano on his client's future this week, Raiola has hinted that the Italian is on his way to England. 'Premier League is the right step for Gigio (Donnarumma) in my view, we're working on it,' the goalkeeper's agent said.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Injury scraps Daniil Donchenko vs. Rodrigo Sezinando 'TUF 33' final at UFC 319
UFC 319 will not crown the Season 33 "Ultimate Fighter" winner at welterweight. The finals matchup between Daniil Donchenko (11-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Rodrigo Sezinando (8-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is off Saturday's prelims at United Center in Chicago due to an injury suffered from Sezinando's side. A person with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the cancellation Thursday, which the UFC later announced. Donchenko, who was a part of Team Daniel Cormier, defeated Richard Martins and finished Matt Dixon by knockout to punch his ticket to the finale. Meanwhile, Sezinando, who was also on Cormier's team, defeated fellow Brazilian and rival Diego Bianchini, and outlasted his teammate Jeff Creighton to earn his spot in the finals. Below is the updated UFC 319 lineup:
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Can Moore help Rangers unlock defences?
YouTube highlights reels can only tell you so much. In the case of Mikey Moore, there are certainly signs Rangers' on-loan Tottenham winger can offer a different type of wide man for head coach Russell Martin. Less than a month into his Ibrox reign, Martin has experienced in microcosm the ups and downs of his immediate two predecessors Barry Ferguson and Philippe Clement - some thrilling nights in Europe and persistent domestic frustrations. Where Moore may aid Martin's cause is his point of difference to Rangers' other wingers Findlay Curtis, Djeidi Gassama and Oliver Antman. Now that red tape over his transfer has been overcome by the advent of his 18th birthday this week, Moore could looks set to his Rangers debut in Saturday's Premier Sports Cup tie with in-form League 1 side Alloa Athletic. In the 1-1 Premiership draws with Motherwell and Dundee, Rangers struggled to get their wingers in behind defences in the manner they did in the Champions League third qualifying round tie with Viktoria Plzen. Martin has lamented poor use of the ball as a key cause for the amount of defending his side has had to do. Moore, a right-footer who can play on either side, seems adept at carrying the ball, going beyond and eliminating defenders to create the kind of space Rangers are trying to exploit. His sole Spurs strike so far came in Europa League action and showed he has an eye for goal - driving at Elfsborg's defence from the left, cutting inside and giving himself a big target to aim for to the goalkeeper's right. He also laid on two Tottenham goals last season in his 19 first-team appearances. At international level, he has been a regular scorer for England's age grade teams and has shouldered the responsibility of taking penalties. Which striker Rangers' wingers will be attempting to supply on Saturday is somewhat of a conundrum for Martin. Cyriel Dessers has started most games this season in the number nine role but went off with a serious-looking injury against Plzen as Rangers completed a 4-2 aggregate win. Brazilian Danilo replaced the Nigeria international and set up Rangers' goal in the Czech Republic while Hamza Igamane - scorer of 16 goals last season - is yet to feature this season amid fitness issues. Upon his signing, Martin described Moore as "brave" and "aggressive". Helping Rangers arrest their early-season domestic slump will require both qualities and more.
