Hercules Fires Fluminense Into Club World Cup Semis

Brazilian side Fluminense are through to the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal on Friday night, thanks to a 70th-minute winner from substitute Hercules.

Matheus Martinelli gave Fluminense the lead five minutes before half-time with a superb left-footed strike, before Al Hilal’s Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo equalised early in the second half. But Hercules, introduced at the break, sealed the win with a well-taken finish that sent the predominantly Brazilian crowd of 43,091 into wild celebration.

“There were very few chances in the first half, but Martinelli showed his class,” said a Fluminense official. The midfielder had collected a pass from Gabriel Fuentes inside the box and created space with a clever turn before blasting past Yassine Bounou.

Al Hilal, who shocked the football world by eliminating Manchester City 4-3 in the previous round, pushed hard in response. Kalidou Koulibaly almost levelled with a powerful header that forced a top save from 44-year-old Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio.

Drama followed minutes later when Al Hilal were awarded a penalty after Samuel Xavier was judged to have fouled Marcos Leonardo. But after a video review, Dutch referee Danny Makkelie overturned the decision, correctly ruling there was no contact.

The Saudi side came out strong in the second half and found their equaliser in the 51st minute. Koulibaly rose highest to meet a corner from Ruben Neves, directing the ball to Marcos Leonardo, who poked home from close range.

Fluminense nearly restored their lead when a poor back pass by Al Hilal’s Renan Lodi gifted an opportunity to German Cano, but the striker’s effort was stopped by a sharp intervention from goalkeeper Bounou.

The decisive moment came with 20 minutes left. A shot from Hercules was blocked, but Samuel headed the rebound back into the path of the substitute, who raced into the area and fired beyond Bounou to make it 2-1.

Al Hilal, featuring Portuguese stars Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo, threw everything forward in the closing stages, earning a series of corners and applying late pressure. But Fluminense held firm.

Before kick-off, a moment of silence was observed in memory of Portugal international Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who tragically died in a car crash in Spain.

Despite the defeat, Al Hilal exit the tournament with heads held high, having impressed throughout the group stage — including a draw against Real Madrid — and capturing global attention with their victory over City.

Fluminense now await the outcome of the other quarter-final clash between Palmeiras and Chelsea, which could set up an all-Brazilian semi-final showdown.