
Sundowns get the better of Ulsan in battle of the outsiders
ORLANDO, Florida :Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD had targeted their Group F opener as their best chance to get a win on the board at the Club World Cup, with Brazil's Fluminense and German side Borussia Dortmund expected to advance from Group F.
South Africa's Sundowns took all three points with a 1-0 win over the South Koreans and went top of the group after Fluminense drew 0-0 with Dortmund.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
African and Asian teams are not expected to make much of an impact at the new-look 32-team Club World Cup so points are like gold dust for the likes of the Sundowns and Ulsan.
KEY QUOTES
Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns coach: 'We prepared tactically and strategically very well, and then we found a commitment between everybody. I think it was clear we made a very wonderful first half. It was important that we could keep the pace and not stray from the game plan in the second half, so that we could score a second goal that for little details or little centimetres, we could not do.'
Kim Pan-gon, Ulsan HD head coach: "We had targeted this game to win because we understand the other two teams in the group, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund, are favourites. Our players gave their best efforts in this game and we're very proud of their efforts. Now we need to recover quickly for the next game.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Pep Guardiola says axed Jack Grealish needs to get ‘butterflies back in his stomach'
Pep Guardiola says axed Jack Grealish needs to get 'butterflies back in his stomach' PHILADELPHIA – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola suggested on June 17 that the dropped Jack Grealish needed to rediscover his love for playing football, after being left out of the squad for the ongoing Club World Cup in the United States. 'Jack is an exceptional player. The only reason he didn't play last season was of course my decisions,' the Spaniard told reporters in Philadelphia, where City were up against Wydad Casablanca in their opening game on June 18, without the England international winger. The result of that match was not available at press time. 'We decided it was best that he stays in Manchester and has a place where he can get back to what he was in the year of the treble or all his career at Aston Villa.' Grealish joined City in 2021 and was a standout on their run to Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup glory in 2023. However, he started only 10 Premier League games in the following season and only 16 times across all competitions in this campaign. 'Without him it would have been more difficult to achieve what we did in the treble season, but the fact is that the last two seasons he has not played much minutes,' Guardiola added. 'He has incredible respect and love for the team... But he has to get back to playing and having the butterflies in his stomach that he needs to play every three days.' While Guardiola left the door open for Grealish to remain at the Etihad Stadium, he admitted that both the player and the club will use their time apart during the Club World Cup to reflect on his future. 'I don't know if his future will be in Manchester,' the City boss said. 'We'll be away now, and we'll see what happens. For now, he's a Manchester City player, and if he has to come back, he will. For now we decided don't come here. We had a conversation between him and the club and decided it was best for him not to travel to the Club World Cup.' The Guardian reported that City are yet to receive a formal offer for Grealish, with the club potentially demanding about £50 million for the forward who cost a then British record £100 million in August 2021. City, who finished third in the Premier League, added four new signings in the recent transfer window to freshen up their squad for the Club World Cup. They brought in Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, exciting French creator Rayan Cherki, left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri and back-up goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli. 'We are really pleased because all of them have huge quality,' Guardiola added. 'With this incredible amount of games we have until the end of the season, 11 months, every three or four days, everyone is going to play.' The last season was one of the hardest of Guardiola's coaching career and he sees the Club World Cup as the first tournament of the new campaign, and therefore a chance to turn the page. 'It is the beginning of the season. In sport, what happened in the past, good or bad, is forgotten so we feel like we are starting the season,' he said. City are expected to ease through to the last 16 from Group G, in which they will also meet Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates and Italian giants Juventus. First up at Lincoln Financial Field is Morocco's Wydad, a leading name in North African football who qualified for the Club World Cup as a recent winner of the CAF Champions League. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Sergio Ramos gives Inter Milan a scare in Club World Cup stalemate
PASADENA – Spanish great Sergio Ramos may be 39, but he still managed to score as Monterrey held Inter Milan 1-1 in a hard-fought Club World Cup Group E opener in Pasadena on June 17. Argentinian striker Lautaro Martinez scored a well-worked equaliser to cancel out Ramos' opener for the Mexican side in front of 40,311 fans at the Rose Bowl. Inter, playing their first game since being thrashed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, were left ruing their failure to turn their dominance of possession and territory into goals. But the draw was a boost for Monterrey, who face Argentina's River Plate in their next game on June 21 'When you don't get all three points you're never entirely happy,' said Ramos, the former Spain and Real Madrid defender. 'But one point is better than no point. 'They were a tough opponent and have just played in the final of the Champions League. We were a little bit nervous but in the second half we stayed organised and kept the ball better. 'Now we need to think about the next game.' Inter coach Cristian Chivu said his team had struggled to break down a Monterrey team who sat deep for long periods. 'We played well in the first half even though we went behind,' he said. 'We could have attacked better in the second half. It's not easy to play against a very low block.' Chivu, in his first match in charge after the departure of Simone Inzaghi, also denied the Champions League finalists had underestimated the Mexicans. 'We respect every team we play and we knew what kind of team they were, we tried to do our best,' he said. 'Sometimes you get the best out of it, sometimes you don't. We created a lot of chances. Football's not won on paper.' Inzaghi, meanwhile, said he gave his all to Inter before taking over at Al-Hilal earlier in June. The Italian, speaking ahead of Al-Hilal's first game at the Club World Cup against Real on June 18, said there could be no questions about his commitment to Inter during his time there. 'Today I heard all sorts of things, as has often happened during the four years I was at Inter,' he said. 'But it's nothing compared to the good I received from the entire Inter world – I mean the fans, the management, the players, everyone at Inter. 'I know I'll miss it – I'll miss everything, even this – even the most unfair accusations that were made over these four years. But I was truly happy. I gave my all.' Before the Inter-Monterrey clash, River Plate overcame a spirited Urawa Red Diamonds 3-1 to make a strong start in Group E. The Argentinian side overpowered their Japanese opponents at Lumen Field under the Seattle sun, in an entertaining battle. Under 12,000 fans attended the clash at the 69,000-capacity stadium but those who were there, many travelling from Japan and Argentina, created a vibrant atmosphere at both ends of the stadium. 'Thanks to all River fans, we knew it wasn't going to be easy to get all the way to here, it's a very long journey, there's no direct flights,' said striker Facundo Colidio, who opened the scoring for River Plate. 'Nevertheless they made it, they were here and they were amazing with their support throughout the game... The venue was really tricky, it's not close to Argentina. 'We needed to start the tournament like this and we knew we could do it, but it was a tough game like we knew it was going to be.' Marcelo Gallardo's River started the stronger and took the lead when Colidio powered a header home from former Sevilla defender Marcos Acuna's cross. New Real signing Franco Mastantuono almost created a second for River, with the 17-year-old teeing up Nacho Fernandez, but the midfielder's drive flew narrowly off target. The Red Diamonds, who won the Asian Champions League in 2022 to qualify as the only Japanese team at the tournament, shot themselves in the foot at the start of the second half. Marius Hoibraaten sent a foolish back-header towards goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa, without noticing Sebastian Driussi sneaking in behind. The striker bravely nodded home past the helpless stopper but hurt himself as he fell and had to be replaced. Yusuke Matsuo pulled the Red Diamonds back into the game from the penalty spot, but Maximiliano Meza put the game to bed for River with a header from Acuna's corner after he was left unmarked. In another game, Mamelodi Sundowns got off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory over South Korean side Ulsan HD in a match delayed by a weather warning and played before largely empty stands. Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso's Mamelodi have won the South African top flight for eight consecutive seasons but finished as runners-up in the CAF Champions League final earlier in June. They claimed victory through Iqraam Rayners' first-half goal. AFP, REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.


CNA
4 hours ago
- CNA
Sundowns get the better of Ulsan in battle of the outsiders
ORLANDO, Florida :Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD had targeted their Group F opener as their best chance to get a win on the board at the Club World Cup, with Brazil's Fluminense and German side Borussia Dortmund expected to advance from Group F. South Africa's Sundowns took all three points with a 1-0 win over the South Koreans and went top of the group after Fluminense drew 0-0 with Dortmund. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT African and Asian teams are not expected to make much of an impact at the new-look 32-team Club World Cup so points are like gold dust for the likes of the Sundowns and Ulsan. KEY QUOTES Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns coach: 'We prepared tactically and strategically very well, and then we found a commitment between everybody. I think it was clear we made a very wonderful first half. It was important that we could keep the pace and not stray from the game plan in the second half, so that we could score a second goal that for little details or little centimetres, we could not do.' Kim Pan-gon, Ulsan HD head coach: "We had targeted this game to win because we understand the other two teams in the group, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund, are favourites. Our players gave their best efforts in this game and we're very proud of their efforts. Now we need to recover quickly for the next game.'