Daniel Svensson propels Dortmund to Club World Cup knockout stage
A goal from Daniel Svensson in the 36th minute was enough to secure victory for Borussia Dortmund. PHOTO: AFP
CINCINNATI, Ohio - A first-half goal from Daniel Svensson was enough to secure Borussia Dortmund's place in the Club World Cup round of 16, as they claimed a 1–0 victory over South Korea's Ulsan HD on June 25.
The German side dominated from the outset at Cincinnati's sun-drenched TQL Stadium, with the attacking trio of Jobe Bellingham, Felix Nmecha and Karim Adeyemi putting the Ulsan goal under siege in the opening exchanges.
The breakthrough finally came in the 36th minute when Bellingham provided a precise pass to Svensson and the Swede scored with a straightforward finish.
Ulsan goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo prevented Dortmund from increasing their lead in the first half, producing a fine save to stop Serhou Guirassy's powerful header.
Pascal Gross thought he had doubled Dortmund's advantage with a well-struck left-footed shot, but Jo was equal to the task once again.
Ulsan improved after the break, finding space as they looked for an equaliser with Lee Jin-hyun's shot from a difficult angle on the left saved by Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel on the hour mark.
Despite continued pressure, Dortmund failed to find the net with Julien Duranville shooting wide and Jo stopping a Yan Couto attempt in the dying minutes.
Dortmund finished top of Group F with seven points, two points clear of Brazilian side Fluminense in second after they drew 0-0 with Mamelodi Sundowns.
The South African champions finished third in the group with four points while Ulsan were bottom after losing all three of their games.
Dortmund will next face the runner-up from Group E, either River Plate, Inter Milan or Monterrey. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
28 minutes ago
- Straits Times
‘Battle of Seattle' as Inter Milan down nine-man River Plate to advance
Inter Milan's Francesco Pio Esposito celebrates scoring their first goal in the 2-0 Club World Cup win over River Plate. Imagn Images via REUTERS 'Battle of Seattle' as Inter Milan down nine-man River Plate to advance SEATTLE – Inter Milan coach Cristian Chivu was glad to have overcome a 'tough' match, as his side advanced to the last 16 of the Club World Cup on June 25 following a stormy 2-0 victory over River Plate that sealed the Argentinian club's exit. Teenage striker Francesco Esposito and Alessandro Bastoni scored the goals to settle a physical contest which saw River finish with nine men. The final whistle was marred by an ugly melee which saw players from both sides clash as they sprinted off the pitch, with missiles being thrown by River's fans at Seattle's Lumen Field. 'We got the job done, that's the most important thing,' Chivu said afterwards. 'That game was very tough for us – in the first half they had a lot of aggression, a lot of intensity. But in the second half we controlled the game better and in the end won.' Earlier, the 19-year-old Esposito bagged his first goal for Serie A giants Inter with a lovely strike in the 72nd minute to put the Italians 1-0 up. The tall teenage striker collected a pass from Petar Sucic, elegantly lost his marker before drilling a shot into the bottom right-hand corner past River goalkeeper Franco Armani. Bastoni then bagged Inter's second deep into injury time to seal a win which sets up a last-16 meeting against Brazil's Fluminense on June 30. Mexico's Monterrey, 4-0 winners over already-eliminated Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds, finished as runners-up in Group E and will face Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 on July 2. Chiva also reserved special praise for Esposito. He said: 'He was up to the task in a serious match. It wasn't easy, either physically or in terms of nerves. 'But he, as with his teammates, played a great match. 'I look at the players I have available. And I try to find a solution by giving everyone a chance to feel important and a part of the project. To find the energy, ambition, and character despite some difficulties, to always be a part of the team and the group.' River's campaign ended in disarray, with defender Lucas Martinez Quarta sent off for denial of a goal-scoring opportunity in the 66th minute. Argentina international Gonzalo Montiel then followed his teammate off the field in injury time after picking up a second yellow card. Inter and River Plate had gone into the game with the Group E standings on a knife edge. But after Monterrey swept into an early 3-0 lead against Urawa in Pasadena, the stakes soon became clear in Seattle, where the winner would advance provided the result in California held. Over in Group F, a solitary first-half goal by Daniel Svensson gave Dortmund a 1-0 win against Ulsan HD as the Germans also secured a place in the last 16. It means they qualified as winners of the group, while Fluminense go through behind them in second after holding off Sundowns in a goalless stalemate played at the same time in Miami. 'We can be satisfied. I think our performance was better than in the first two matches,' said Dortmund coach Niko Kovac. He has spoken regularly at the tournament about the difficulties posed by the searing June heat in the United States, and this was another game played in sweltering mid-afternoon conditions. 'We keep saying the same thing. What the boys are doing is incredible. Thirty-six degrees Celsius and 43 degrees in the stadium. This is incredible,' Kovac added. 'Even if you just stand around it can get very taxing but I think they are doing a great job. Now we have a day off and I hope the players recover for the next match.' Dortmund will next face take on Monterrey. AFP, REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
43 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Monterrey down Urawa with quick-fire treble to reach Club World Cup last 16
Monterrey down Urawa with quick-fire treble to reach Club World Cup last 16 LOS ANGELES - Monterrey booked a spot in the knockout rounds of the Club World Cup with a thumping 4-0 win over Urawa Red Diamonds at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday to claim second place in Group E and set up a last 16 meeting with Borussia Dortmund. Three goals in eight first-half minutes sent Monterrey on their way to victory, with stunning long-range strikes from Nelson Deossa and Jesus Corona coming either side of German Berterame's cool finish. Deossa put Monterrey in front on the half-hour mark with a swerving shot from 35 yards and Berterame doubled the advantage four minutes later. Corona added the third with the pick of the goals from distance in the 38th minute before Berterame scored the fourth in second-half stoppage time. The win, coupled with Inter Milan's 2-0 victory over River Plate, means Monterrey finish second and will take on Dortmund in Atlanta on Tuesday. Urawa, who were already eliminated after losing their opening two games, should have gone ahead midway through the first half when Ryoma Watanabe slid a pass through to Yusuke Matsuo but his poor first touch gave Ricardo Chavez enough time to block the goal-bound strike. The Mexican side's opener came on the half-hour mark when central midfielder Deossa found space to hit a thunderous, swerving left-foot strike from midway inside the Urawa half that left goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa flapping. Monterrey's second came four minutes later as Alfonso Alvarado slipped a pass into Berterame, who bent a low shot into the bottom corner of the Urawa goal. Worse was to come for the former Asian champions as Monterrey struck again from distance, Corona smashing his attempt from 30 yards out beyond Nishikawa's dive. Nishikawa prevented Monterrey from adding to the mauling early in the second half when he blocked Chavez's effort, and Berterame missed out on his second when he pulled his shot wide in the 52nd minute. Watanabe put a late free kick over the bar as the Japanese side looked for a consolation goal but Berterame slid in to stab the ball over from close range in the 97th minute to seal an emphatic Monterrey win. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
43 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Inter Milan strike late to progress with 2-0 win over River Plate
Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group E - Inter Milan v River Plate - Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington, U.S. - June 25, 2025 River Plate's Franco Mastantuono and Ignacio Fernandez look dejected after Inter Milan's Francesco Pio Esposito scores their first goal REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group E - Inter Milan v River Plate - Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington, U.S. - June 25, 2025 River Plate's Miguel Borja in action with Inter Milan's Carlos Augusto IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Steven Bisig REUTERS Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group E - Inter Milan v River Plate - Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington, U.S. - June 25, 2025 Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni scores their second goal IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Steven Bisig REUTERS Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group E - Inter Milan v River Plate - Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington, U.S. - June 25, 2025 River Plate's Marcos Acuna and Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries react after the match IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Steven Bisig REUTERS Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group E - Inter Milan v River Plate - Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington, U.S. - June 25, 2025 River Plate's German Pezzella in action with Inter Milan's Sebastiano Esposito IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Steven Bisig REUTERS SEATTLE, Washington - Inter Milan scored twice in the last 18 minutes to beat River Plate 2-0 on Wednesday and progress to the knockout stage of the Club World Cup as Group E winners and send the Argentines home. Sebastiano Esposito scored Inter's first goal seven minutes after River had been reduced to 10 men by the dismissal of Lucas Martinez Quarta, and Alessandro Bastoni added the second in stoppage time. The 20-times Italian champions will face Brazilian club Fluminese in the last 16 in Charlotte on Monday with Monterrey, who beat Urawa Red Diamonds 4-0, going through in second place a point ahead of River. Martinez Quarta was shown the red card for bringing down Henrikh Mkhitaryan as the last defender with his teammate Gonzalo Montiel also dismissed for two yellow cards after a fracas in stoppage time. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
