Fluminense vs Al Hilal: Martinelli fires Brazilians to semis

Fluminense vs Al Hilal lit up Jeddah on Friday night as the Brazilian champions edged the Saudi Arabian giants 2-1 to book their spot in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals. Veteran winger Martinelli opened the scoring with a razor-sharp finish before substitute Hercules added the decisive second, cancelling out a late rally from the Riyadh powerhouse. The result sends Fernando Diniz’s men into the last four, while Jorge Jesus’ star-studded squad are left to wonder how they let the tie slip.

Fluminense vs Al Hilal: How the drama unfolded

The quarter-final began at a frantic pace, with both sides clearly aware of the magnitude of the occasion. In the 12th minute, João Arias drifted inside and slipped a clever through ball into the path of Martinelli. The 37-year-old, who won the competition with Internacional in 2006, took one touch to steady himself and lashed a low strike past Yassine Bounou. The Brazilian supporters erupted, sensing that once again Fluminense vs Al Hilal was tilting in their favour.

Al Hilal responded through their illustrious front line of Aleksandar Mitrović and Malcolm. The Serbian marksman rattled the crossbar with a bullet header on 27 minutes, while Malcolm forced Fábio into a fingertip save after skipping inside Marcelo from the right flank. Still, Fluminense’s defensive trio of Nino, Felipe Melo and André kept their shape, frustrating the Roshn Saudi League champions and ensuring the primary focus keyword remained synonymous with Brazilian resilience.

Key moments that shaped the tie

• 12’ – Goal: Martinelli. The winger’s clinical finish put Flu ahead early.
• 41’ – VAR drama. Mitrović thought he had equalised, but a marginal offside call saw the goal chalked off.
• 67’ – Hercules strikes. Introduced just five minutes earlier, the midfielder swept home from the edge of the area to double the advantage.
• 83’ – Al Dawsari lifeline. The Saudi skipper bundled the ball over the line after confusion in the six-yard box to make it 2-1.
• 90+5’ – Last-gasp save. Goalkeeper Fábio sprang left to deny Mitrović and preserve the lead.

Tactical tale: Diniz’s daring build-up vs Jesus’ high press

True to his philosophy, Fernando Diniz instructed his side to construct from the back, often tempting Al Hilal’s front three into aggressive pressing traps. Fluminense vs Al Hilal repeatedly showcased the Carioca club’s risk-laden build-up, with defensive midfield anchor André dropping between centre-backs to outnumber the Saudi press. Conversely, Jorge Jesus opted for a 4-2-4 when pressing, tasking Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinković-Savić with covering huge swathes of midfield grass once possession was lost. The gambit produced turnovers, but without the finishing touch, frustration crept in.

Jesus made a double change at half-time, introducing Salem Al Dawsari and Michael to stretch the pitch. The substitutions injected impetus, yet also surrendered midfield control. It was in this gap that Hercules, on for Lima, found the freedom to steer his delicious curling effort into the top corner, the goal that ultimately separated the teams in this memorable iteration of Fluminense vs Al Hilal.

Stand-out performers

Martinelli: One goal, three key passes, endless energy from the left.

André: Dictated tempo, completed 91% of his passes and made five interceptions.

Fábio: The 43-year-old goalkeeper rolled back the years with two elite saves, including the stoppage-time header that preserved victory.

What the victory means for Fluminense

For the South American champions, beating Al Hilal offers vindication after a gruelling season that culminated in a maiden Copa Libertadores triumph. Progressing in the Club World Cup keeps alive their dream of matching Corinthians and Internacional by bringing the global crown back to Brazil. The semi-final pairs them with either Palmeiras or European heavyweights Chelsea in another blockbuster Fluminense vs Al Hilal-style showdown where nerve and execution will be paramount.

Al Hilal left to regroup

Despite dominating domestic competition, the Riyadh club have now crashed out of back-to-back Club World Cups at the quarter-final stage. The investment in global names such as Bounou, Neves and Milinković-Savić was intended to propel them beyond this glass ceiling. Instead, lapses in concentration and missed chances leave questions swirling around Jorge Jesus’ ability to marry flair with the robustness required on the world stage.

Road ahead: potential semi-final chess match

Should Chelsea see off Palmeiras, the narrative will shift towards a South America vs Europe classic. Diniz’s possession-heavy “relational football” would be tested by Mauricio Pochettino’s vertical transitions. If Palmeiras upset the Blues, Brazilian football will savour an all-Brasileirão semi-final that guarantees a finalist from the land of samba. Either way, Fluminense vs Al Hilal has already set the competition ablaze and offered a tantalising flavour of what is to come.

Historical context

Fluminense were founded in 1902 and remain one of Rio de Janeiro’s traditional powerhouses, yet this is only their second appearance at the global showpiece. Al Hilal, established in 1957, boast a record 18 Saudi league titles and reached the Club World Cup final in 2022. Friday’s meeting marked the fifth official contest between Brazilian and Saudi clubs on this stage, with CONMEBOL sides now holding three wins to two. Every edition of Fluminense vs Al Hilal seems to add a fresh twist to the evolving rivalry between these football cultures.

Player quotes

Martinelli: “People talk about my age, but nights like this are why I’m still playing. We respect Al Hilal, but Fluminense fear nobody.”

Mitrović: “We had chances and didn’t convert. At this level you pay a heavy price.”

Statistics snapshot featuring the primary keyword

• Possession: Al Hilal 55% – 45% Fluminense
• Shots: Al Hilal 17 – 10 Fluminense
• Expected Goals (xG): 1.84 – 1.26
• Pass accuracy: Fluminense 86%, Al Hilal 88%
• Fouls: 18 – 14
These numbers underline how fine the margins were in Fluminense vs Al Hilal, where efficiency trumped volume.

Fan reaction

Social media exploded as #Fluminense and #AlHilal trended worldwide. Brazilian fans hailed the tactical masterclass, while Saudi supporters lamented squandered opportunities. The match delivered exactly what the Club World Cup promises: continental styles clashing, drama until the final whistle, and narratives that stretch far beyond 90 minutes.

Opinion: a thrilling advert for emerging football powers

Fluminense vs Al Hilal might not yet carry the glamour of Real Madrid or Liverpool, but it embodied the spirit of a tournament designed to champion global growth. Fluminense’s boldness and Al Hilal’s ambition reflect how investment and innovation are levelling the playing field. For neutral observers, this quarter-final reaffirmed that football’s next great stories may well be written outside Europe’s traditional super-club corridors.

Short Opinion: This tie was a timely reminder that tactical bravery and individual flair can still outshine financial muscle. Fluminense earned their win through cohesion and clarity of purpose, and their fearless approach should serve as a blueprint for underdogs everywhere.