EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ(SMI-GLOBAL-SPORTS-JUNE14-JULY 13, 2025)-Nonato, Juan Pablo Freytes & Keno combined for 3-Goals in the 2nd half as Fluminense overcame and defeated Ulsan(South-Korea) 4-2, to claim its first win and take first place with 4-points in Group F, at Metlife Stadium.

With the victory, Fluminense and  Borussia Dortmund share first place with 4-points each after the Germans defeated Mamelodi Sundown (South-Africa) 4-3,
with one game remaining to determine the two teams that will advance to the round of 16, to be played next weekend.

A high-Energy game from the start, the Brazilians ferociously went to the attack as  soon the whistle blew and almost scored in the first minute of the game.Midfielder Paulo H. Ganso received the ball from a corner kick and shot a left-footed to goal but it was blocked onto the field by South-Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, and when a defender failed to clear the ball, Ganso once again kicked to goal but Hyeon-Woon parry the ball away for a sensational save. 

After the continuous pressure from Fluminense, the first goal arrived through Jhon Arias who scored with a canon free-kick from 25-yards away to the upper-right corner to put the Brazilians 1-0, over the South-Koreans at 27' mark.

With 8' minute left in the first half, the South-Koreans stuns the Brazilians and their fans with back-to-back goals during a span of 10' minute to take the lead 2-1,
at the end of the half.

After receiving a long pass from downfield to the right side corner, forward Um Won-Sang ran inside the 18' and crossed a rolling pass to the opposite side finding 
Lee Jin-Hyun who scored with a left-footed to the far goalpost to tie the game 1-1, at 37' mark.

With time running -out and stoppage time, midfielder Lee Jin-Hyun through the left-side corner centered the ball inside the penalty box finding Um Won-Sang who scored with a header to put Ulsan in front 2-1, at the half.  

In the second half, both teams traded back and fourth counter-attacks without any major danger until Fluminense found the equalizer through midfielder Nonato at 66' mark. During an offensive attack through the left-side field, forward Keno ran inside the penalty box and crossed the ball & defender M. Trojak failed to clear the ball  bouncing to Nonato who scored with a right-footed to lower right-goal post.

With 7' minute left in the game and 2-2, tie, Fluminense scored two goals to seal their first victory of Group F, sending the crowd wild in celebration.

Defender Gabriel Fuentes centered the ball inside the penalty box through a corner kick, and after couple headers inside the box  G. Cano found the ball and gave it to Juan Pablo Freytes who scored with a left-footed to the far right goalpost to make it 3-2, and in stoppage time 90+2, on a breakaway through the right-side field, Nonato 
passed the ball to Jhon Arias who centered the ball inside the 18' to Keno who scored with a header to the lower goalpost to sealed the 4-2, win for Fluminense over Ulsan.

The Next Games for Both Teams:

FC Fluminense will face Mamelodi Sundowns on Wed. June 25, @ Hard Rock Stadium

Ulsan will face Dortmund on Wed June 25, at TQL Stadium in Ohio



Photo & Article By Marcello Cutti II/Starlight Illustrated