Fluminense Overcomes Drama and Secures Comeback Against Ulsan to Lead the Group | OneFootball

It wasn't easy, and the tricolor fans, who started the day with a celebration in Times Square, suffered at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Fluminense took the lead, but Ulsan Hyundai Ulsan Hyundai turned the game around and made it increasingly dangerous. However, under the command of Keno, the Tricolor managed a comeback, winning 4-2 to take the lead in the group.

The Tricolor has the same four points as Borussia Dortmund, but with a better goal difference. In the final round, they need a draw against Sundowns, who have three points, to secure qualification, and ideally a good victory to surpass the Germans, who will conclude the group against the already eliminated Ulsan.

There was drama

As in the debut, Fluminense started the game under pressure. They cornered Ulsan Hyundai and went on the offensive. With Ganso in the team, Arias had more mobility and roamed more on the field. He and Ganso consistently looked for triangular plays with the wingers and fullbacks.

Ganso had the first chances of the match, and in both, he was stopped by goalkeeper Hyeon-woo. After the initial pressure, the South Koreans managed to control their opponent better and closed down the area well.

Then, the set piece made the difference. The star appeared: Jhon Arias. After Martinelli drew a foul just outside the box, Arias struck it into the corner, and the goalkeeper couldn't react, even though the ball went to his side. 1-0, deservedly so.

The moment was right for Flu, who continued to press and had the chance to score a second. However, Serna, despite some good dribbling on the left, couldn't find his teammates in the box. And Cano was not having a good game.

In their first attack, at 37 minutes, Ulsan equalized. Won-sang made the play on the right and sent it into the box. The ball passed by Fábio, the defense, and fell to Jin-hyun, who equalized with his team's first shot of the game.

The Tricolor got lost, and conceded another goal before the break. The roles reversed and Jin-hyun took advantage of a loose ball on the left to cross for Won-sang to head in freely. 2-1, and a game that seemed under control suddenly became complicated...

Fluminense Reinvents

Fluminense had to reinvent themselves in the second half. First, Everaldo came on to partner with Cano upfront. It didn't quite work. Ulsan became increasingly dangerous on the counterattacks.

The Carioca pressure only really increased with the introduction of Keno. On the left wing, Keno not only managed to outplay his marker one-on-one but also made better decisions in key moments. Ulsan started to feel cornered.

The equalizing goal for Tricolor came from a play on the left by Keno. The defense couldn't clear the cross properly, and Nonato, on the rebound, finished with finesse to level the score.

Germán Cano, in a less inspired performance, could have put them ahead soon after. He received a cross from Everaldo and dived in the small box, but sent it wide.

As time passed without a third goal, Flu increasingly suffered from the South Korean counterattacks. With high lines, they lacked a defense fast enough to hold off their rivals on the breaks, and their pressing was not effective. It was a very open and risky game.

Then, an unlikely hero emerged, close to the end. Freytes, who had a good game, especially with his ball distribution, capitalized on a misfired shot by Cano and, in the small box, completed the turnaround.

With the opponent disheartened and disorganized, Flu sought the fourth. In stoppage time, Nonato led a counterattack and passed it in the box to Arias, who turned on the defender and crossed left-footed for Keno to head in and secure the 4-2, confirmed with a last-moment save by Fábio. Tricolor relief, and qualification closer.