Brazilian side Fluminense booked their semi-final place at the FIFA Club World Cup with a victory over Saudi club Al-Hilal.
Flu will face Chelsea on Tuesday (20:00 BST) in New Jersey.
Matheus Martinelli gave them the lead with a wonderful finish into the top corner from 16 yards out from Gabriel Fuentes’ pass.
Al-Hilal had a penalty overturned by the video assistant referee when Samuel Xavier clipped Marcos Leonardo.
But they got their equaliser when Kalidou Koulibaly’s header fell to Leonardo, who netted from close range – his fourth goal of the tournament.
Fluminense found the winner, though, when Xavier headed the ball down to substitute Hercules, who slotted a shot into the bottom corner.
Al-Hilal piled on plenty of late pressure but could not find an equaliser to force extra time.
Before this tournament, most people expected the winner to come from Europe, with many suggesting that more teams should come from the top European leagues.
This game was widely expected to be Manchester City v Inter Milan – but Al-Hilal beat the Premier League side in the last round, and Fluminense defeated their Serie A opponents.
What makes Flu’s run especially noteworthy is that they are far from Brazil’s best team.
They only finished four points above the relegation zone last season and are sixth in the ongoing 2025 campaign. And now they are two wins away from being world champions.
(BBC)
