Borussia Dortmund managed a 4-3 win over Mamelodi Sundowns to go top of Group F at the Club World Cup.
Lucas Ribeiro put the Sundowns into the lead in the 11th minute courtesy of a mazy run before firing the ball past Gregor Kobel. But Dortmund were not behind for long. A mistake from Ronwen Williams allowed Felix Nmecha to level the game. Serhou Guirassy then put Dortmund ahead in the 34th minute with a header. And Jobe Bellingham extended Dortmund’s lead just before half-time with a right-footed finish.
The game seemed to be beyond the Sundowns on the hour mark when Khuliso Mudau accidentally sent the ball into the back of his own net. But a goal just two minutes later from Iqraam Rayners gave the South African side hope of a comeback. And in the 90th minute, Lebo Mothiba increased that hope by scoring from close range. However, Dortmund held out to take the three points.
Here, Gregg Evans analyses Dortmund’s victory on Saturday.
How did Bellingham perform on his full Dortmund debut?
Jobe Bellingham marked his full Dortmund debut with a goal and a classy performance to go alongside it.
The 19-year-old joined only a few days before the tournament and made his first appearance from the bench in the 0-0 draw with Fluminense. That he was handed a start in this game came as a little surprise, yet he stepped up and made a difference when it mattered.
His goal on the stroke of half time put Dortmund 3-1 up and was packed with quality as he chested the ball down and volleyed home, via a slight deflection.
Bellingham, who wore a Jobe, No.77 shirt, spoke in the build-up to the game about how he was determined to make a name for himself at Dortmund despite following on from his hugely successful brother, Jude. Jude also represented the German club between 2020 and 2023 before moving to Real Madrid.
He grew into the game and showed both strength and power in a midfield that pushed up high and pressed with purpose to force their opponents into plenty of mistakes.
The €38million (£32m; $43.3m) signing from Sunderland also played a big part in the fourth goal and showed signs of why Dortmund were prepared to pay so much for his services.
Did errors cost the Sundowns?
In the end, it was the Yellow Wall that overpowered the yellow nation.
Dortmund’s intense pressing and organisation proved to be too strong for the Sundowns, who were forced into mistakes that ultimately proved costly. For all their threat on the attack, it was their decision-making that let them down.
Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was too casual with a pass that gifted midfielder Felix Nmecha the equaliser early in the first half. Pascal Gross then pinched the ball in the middle, and Dortmund were able to take advantage for their second goal.
It wasn’t only in defence where the Sundowns were caught out, either.
Despite regularly progressing into promising positions, they wasted opportunities by making the wrong pass or taking on a shot when there was a better option.
The Sundowns approached the game in the right way but were unable to execute the plan, and Dortmund used all their top-level experience to take control. And with Dortmund only winning by a single goal, the errors looked even more costly at full-time.
Could Ribeiro have scored the goal of the Club World Cup?
Have we already seen the goal of the tournament? And will this be the moment that alerts the rest of the world to the talented Lucas Ribeiro?
The 26-year-old is the leading light in the attack-minded Sundowns side, and he produced a moment of magic to open the scores. A lovely half-turn and spin from the former Dortmund Under-19 player Tashreeq Matthews started off the move, but after that, it was all about Ribeiro’s swagger.
First, he switched feet at breathtaking speed to leave Waldemar Anton in the dust.
At this point, there was still a lot to do, but Ribeiro, flying towards the goal from the halfway line, made the rest look easy and left the Dortmund backline red-faced in the process.
Ramy Bensebaini lay spread out after a failed slide tackle that Ribeiro simply jumped over, and with Anton treading water in a desperate attempt to track back, Daniel Svensson hopelessly stepped up, presumably expecting Ribeiro to play in team-mate Iqraam Rayners, but the Brazilian had his eyes firmly on the goal.
By adding the finishing touch, he produced one of the standout moments in the U.S. so far, and if there’s a better goal in this tournament, then it’s going to take something special to beat this one.
What next for Mamelodi Sundowns?
Wednesday, June 25: Fluminense, Club World Cup group stage (Miami), 3pm ET, 8pm UK
What next for Borussia Dortmund?
Wednesday, June 25: Ulsan, Club World Cup group stage (Cincinnati), 3pm ET, 8pm UK
