Borussia Dortmund Tops Group F, Beats Ulsan 1–0

Borussia Dortmund Tops Group F, Beats Ulsan 1–0 \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Daniel Svensson’s 36th-minute goal lifted Borussia Dortmund to a 1–0 win over Ulsan and into the Club World Cup round of 16. Dortmund topped Group F with seven points, while Ulsan finished winless. The match, played in intense heat, featured U.S. Vice President JD Vance among the 8,239 spectators.

Quick Looks

• Match winner: Svensson scored off a pass from Jobe Bellingham after a defensive mistake by Ulsan.
• Group standings: Dortmund finished first in Group F; Ulsan exited without a win.
• Next match: Dortmund faces the Group E runner-up—Inter Milan, River Plate, or Monterrey—on July 1.

Deep Look

Borussia Dortmund secured their progression to the round of 16 at the FIFA Club World Cup with a 1–0 win over Ulsan Hyundai on Wednesday, in a match defined by oppressive heat, tactical dominance, and a clinical finish from 23-year-old midfielder Daniel Svensson. Played at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, the game highlighted both Dortmund’s quality and Ulsan’s limitations on the international stage.

The match’s pivotal moment came in the 36th minute after a crucial defensive miscue from Ulsan. A poor pass near their own penalty area gifted possession to Jobe Bellingham, who showed composure and vision by threading a sharp pass to Svensson just outside the six-yard box. The Danish midfielder, currently on loan to Dortmund from Denmark’s Nordsjælland, took a single touch to steady himself before firing past South Korean international goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo. It marked Svensson’s second goal for Dortmund, following his strike against Borussia Mönchengladbach in Bundesliga play earlier this year.

From there, Dortmund continued to control the pace and rhythm of the match. They outshot Ulsan by a staggering 28 to 3 and dominated possession, forcing the K-League side to retreat and defend for long stretches. Despite this control, Dortmund couldn’t add to their lead, in part due to wasteful finishing and some resilient, last-ditch defending by Ulsan.

Still, the narrow victory was enough for Dortmund to finish top of Group F with seven points, ahead of Fluminense, who settled for second place following a 0–0 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns. Ulsan, who entered the tournament with high hopes, ended their campaign winless, having lost 4–2 to Fluminense and 1–0 to Sundowns earlier in the group stage.

Adding to the intensity of the match was the blistering heat—temperatures climbed to 93°F (33°C), prompting a heat advisory that tested player endurance. Despite the extreme conditions and a midweek kickoff, 8,239 fans were in attendance at the 26,000-seat venue. Among them was U.S. Vice President JD Vance, whose appearance drew significant attention amid the broader political engagement with the high-profile tournament.

The game also marked a milestone for American fans as midfielder Gio Reyna made his first appearance of the tournament for Dortmund, entering in the 78th minute. Reyna’s participation in the Club World Cup, which FIFA has prioritized over regional tournaments, meant he was unavailable for U.S. Men’s National Team duty during the CONCACAF Gold Cup—a source of controversy for some U.S. soccer supporters who had hoped to see him on national duty.

For Dortmund, the win solidifies their status as a contender in this expanded edition of the Club World Cup. The team’s blend of youth and experience, highlighted by Svensson’s composed finish and Bellingham’s creative play, continues to yield results. They now advance to face the second-place finisher from Group E—likely to be one of Inter Milan, River Plate, or Monterrey—on July 1 in Atlanta.

The result also continues a recent trend of strong European performances in global tournaments, even as clubs from South America and Asia increasingly make their mark. For Ulsan, the tournament ended in disappointment, but it also exposed areas for growth and tactical improvement on the world stage.

Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, will look to capitalize on their group-stage momentum. With several of their star players hitting form and a clear game plan in place, they are well-positioned for a deep run in the knockout stages. As the tournament moves to its next phase, Dortmund’s depth, discipline, and attacking creativity make them a team to watch in the race for the Club World Cup crown.

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