Fluminense Defeats Al-Hilal 2-1 to Reach Club World Cup Semifinals

Fluminense secured a 2-1 victory over Al Hilal in the Club World Cup quarterfinals, earning a spot in the semifinals against the winner of the Palmeiras vs. Chelsea match. Matheus Martinelli opened the scoring for Fluminense in the 40th-41st minute after a defensive error by João Cancelo, while Al Hilal equalized early in the second half through Marcos Leonardo following a corner kick. A penalty awarded to Al Hilal was overturned after a VAR review. The winning goal came in the 70th minute from second-half substitute Hércules, who capitalized on sustained pressure to score. The match was marked by a moment of silence honoring the recent tragic deaths of Portuguese players Diogo Jota and Andre Silva, creating an emotional atmosphere, especially for Al Hilal's João Cancelo and Rúben Neves. The semifinal will be held Tuesday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.