River Plate secured a commanding 3-1 victory over Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in the FIFA Club World Cup, while Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense played to a goalless draw in their opening matches.
River Plate’s Dominant Performance
At Lumen Field in Seattle, River Plate showcased their prowess with a convincing win against Urawa Red Diamonds. Facundo Colidio opened the scoring in the 12th minute, heading in a cross from Marcos Acuña. The Argentinian side doubled their lead just after halftime when Sebastian Driussi found the net in the 48th minute. However, Driussi’s goal came at a cost as he collided with goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa, resulting in an ankle injury that forced him off the pitch. Coach Marcelo Gallardo later confirmed that Driussi would undergo testing on his ankle.
Urawa Red Diamonds pulled one back in the 58th minute through Yusuke Matsuo’s penalty kick after Takuro Kaneko was fouled inside the box, leading to a yellow card for Acuña. Despite the momentum shift, River Plate sealed the victory when Maximiliano Meza scored in the 73rd minute, capitalizing on another assist from Acuña’s perfectly-placed corner kick.
Dortmund and Fluminense Share the Spoils
Meanwhile, at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Borussia Dortmund and Brazil’s Fluminense battled to a 0-0 draw under rainy skies. Fluminense created the better chances, outshooting their German opponents 14-7. Agustín Canobbio had a notable opportunity in the 58th minute, but his shot was saved by Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
Dortmund’s new signing, Jobe Bellingham—the younger brother of Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham—made his debut in the 59th minute as a substitute. Despite the energetic efforts, neither side could break the deadlock. Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio preserved the draw by saving Niklas Süle’s shot in stoppage time.
The match drew a crowd of 34,763 fans, predominantly supporting Fluminense, adding a vibrant atmosphere despite the stadium being just under half full.
Looking Ahead
River Plate’s strong start puts them in a favorable position in Group E as they look to progress in the tournament. Borussia Dortmund will aim for a better result in their next match against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in Cincinnati, while Fluminense will face South Korea’s Ulsan at MetLife Stadium.
