Dortmund Survives Late Sundowns Surge to Win 4‑3 Thriller \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Borussia Dortmund edged past Mamelodi Sundowns 4-3 in a heated Club World Cup group match in Cincinnati. An early mistake by the Sundowns’ keeper set the tone for Dortmund’s scoring spree. Despite a strong late comeback, Sundowns fell short in a match played under extreme heat conditions.
Quick Looks
- Dortmund capitalized on an early error to tie and dominate the first half.
- Serhou Guirassy and Jobe Bellingham added to Dortmund’s tally before halftime.
- Sundowns responded late with two goals but couldn’t overcome the deficit.
- The game was played under a heat advisory, with cooling breaks included.
- Dortmund now leads Group H and faces Ulsan next, while Sundowns meet Fluminense.
Deep Look
Borussia Dortmund secured a thrilling 4-3 win over South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in a fiercely contested Club World Cup group stage match at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The game unfolded under a punishing summer sun, with soaring temperatures nearing 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) prompting a heat advisory and necessitating multiple cooling breaks throughout the match.
The heat, however, did little to cool the tempo of the game, which delivered end-to-end action, dramatic momentum swings, and critical errors that shaped the outcome.
The Sundowns drew first blood in the 11th minute thanks to a stunning counterattack capped by Lucas Ribeiro Costa. Breaking away from midfield with speed and precision, Costa took advantage of a stretched Dortmund defense and buried a clinical finish to give the South Africans a dream start. Their early lead, however, was short-lived.
In the 16th minute, a catastrophic error by Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams changed the entire complexion of the match. Attempting to play out from the back, Williams misjudged his pass and gifted the ball directly to Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha, who had an open net in front of him. Nmecha made no mistake, slotting the ball home to bring the score level and swing momentum toward the German side.
From that point on, Dortmund took firm control. Serhou Guirassy added a second for the Bundesliga club in the 34th minute, converting a low drive that beat Williams and punctuated a period of dominance. Then, just before halftime, Jobe Bellingham extended the lead to 3-1 with a well-placed shot after a neat build-up. Dortmund entered the break in full command, having not only neutralized Sundowns’ early burst but also exposed gaps in their defensive structure.
The second half began with Dortmund looking comfortable and in no rush to overextend, but a freak own goal further padded their lead. In the 59th minute, as Daniel Svensson sent a cross into the box, Sundowns defender Khuliso Mudau, in an attempt to clear the ball, inadvertently redirected it into his own net. The score ballooned to 4-1, and it seemed Dortmund had put the match beyond reach.
However, the Sundowns refused to fold. In the face of mounting pressure and stifling heat, they staged an inspired late-game resurgence. Iqraam Rayners spearheaded the revival, narrowly missing with a header that struck the post before converting the rebound in the 62nd minute. The goal sparked fresh energy among the Sundowns ranks and noticeably shifted the pace of the game.
As Dortmund began to tire and shift to a more defensive stance, Sundowns pressed harder. In the 90th minute, Lebo Mothiba added a third for the South African side, capitalizing on a lapse in Dortmund’s defense. Despite the late charge and spirited attacking play, the Sundowns couldn’t find an equalizer in stoppage time.
The match marked a learning opportunity for both sides. For Dortmund, the result highlighted their capacity to capitalize on mistakes and exert control for long stretches, while also exposing their vulnerability under sustained pressure. For the Sundowns, the game was a stark lesson in the importance of avoiding costly errors, especially against elite European opposition. Still, their late-game determination and attacking fluidity were notable positives.
Among those on the Dortmund bench was American midfielder Gio Reyna, who was absent from the U.S. national team’s Gold Cup campaign. He was dressed but did not see playing time for the second consecutive match, a decision that may fuel further debate regarding his role within the club.
Player reactions post-match reflected the intense physical and emotional nature of the contest. “We gave them a hard time,” said Sundowns forward Tashreeq Matthews, expressing pride in the team’s resilience despite the loss. Dortmund’s Jobe Bellingham, who scored the third goal, emphasized the difficulty of playing in such extreme heat, noting the challenge for European players adapting to unfamiliar climates.
With this result, Borussia Dortmund moves to the top of Group H, overtaking Sundowns, who had previously led the group standings. Dortmund’s next test comes on Wednesday against Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea, while Mamelodi Sundowns face a high-stakes clash with Brazilian giants Fluminense—a match that could decide their tournament fate.
The seven-goal spectacle in Cincinnati was not only a showcase of footballing skill but also a reminder of how environmental conditions, mental lapses, and strategic flexibility can all conspire to shape the outcome of elite-level matches. As the tournament progresses, both sides will look to apply the hard-earned lessons from this Group H thriller.
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