Toronto, July 5(HS): Brazil’s Fluminense advanced to the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 by defeating Al Hilal 2-1. Matheus Martinelli opened the scoring in the first half with a stunning left-footed shot. Al Hilal equalized shortly after halftime through Marcus Leonardo.

However, Fluminense responded strongly, and Hercules, a substitute, scored the winning goal in the 70th minute, sealing a historic victory. This match marked the first confrontation between the two teams. Fluminense, viewed as the tournament’s underdog, will face the winner of the quarterfinal between Palmeiras and Chelsea.

The match began with a minute of silence in honor of Diogo Jota and his brother, victims of a tragic car accident. Key moments included Martinelli’s opener from Gabriel Fuentes’ assist and Leonardo’s header that leveled the score before Hercules’ decisive strike.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar