Borussia Dortmund survived a furious second-half comeback from South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns to earn a thrilling 4-3 victory in Group F action at the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday afternoon. In sweltering midday heat at TQL Stadium, Dortmund rebounded from an early deficit to move to the top of the group, while Sundowns were left to rue defensive errors and missed chances in what was one of the tournament’s most entertaining matches so far.
The match, played in front of 14,006 fans, sprang to life early, with Mamelodi Sundowns stunning the European giants in the 11th minute. Lucas Ribeiro picked up the ball near midfield, danced past two defenders, and finished with composure to give the South African champions a shock 1-0 lead.
But the advantage was short-lived. Just five minutes later, an error from Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams gifted Felix Nmecha an equalizer. Attempting to play out from the back, Williams’s mishit pass fell directly to Nmecha, who calmly slotted into an open net.
Dortmund began to take control of the match, and in the 34th minute, they moved in front through Serhou Guirassy. A slick one-two between the striker and Julian Brandt opened space inside the box, and Guirassy powered a header into the back of the net to make it 2-1.
Jobe Bellingham extended the lead to 3-1 just before halftime, scoring his first goal for the club in only his second appearance. After Brandt’s cross was parried directly into his path, Bellingham delayed his shot just enough to wrong-foot the Sundowns keeper and tuck home the finish.
The second half brought even more drama. Sundowns nearly pulled one back in the 55th minute when Iqraam Rayners struck the post, and just moments later, disaster struck again. In the 59th minute, Daniel Svensson’s low cross deflected off Khuliso Mudau for an own goal, stretching Dortmund’s lead to 4-1.
Still, Sundowns refused to give in.
Just three minutes later, Teboho Mokoena delivered a pinpoint free kick to the back post, where Rayners’ initial effort struck the woodwork for the second time. The rebound bounced back to him, and he reacted quickly to head the ball into the net on the second attempt, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
The South Africans continued to press. Substitute Lebo Mothiba added a third goal in the 90th minute, capitalizing on a turnover to score from close range and set up a frantic finish. But despite their late pressure, Sundowns could not complete the comeback as Dortmund held on to secure all three points.
In total, seven different players scored, with additional moments of chaos coming from multiple offside decisions and a flurry of second-half bookings. Carney Chukwuemeka, Tashreeq Matthews, Maximilian Beier, and Marcelo Allende all received yellow cards in a match that grew increasingly physical as the tempo rose.
While the result drops Sundowns to second in the group, the performance was a strong showing against one of Europe’s elite. For Dortmund, the win marks a crucial step toward securing a spot in the knockout stages, though their defensive vulnerabilities may be a concern as the competition gets more difficult.
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Match Details
Competition: FIFA Club World Cup
Date: June 21, 2025
Venue: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Kickoff: 12:00 PM ET
Goals
11’ – Lucas Ribeiro (Mamelodi Sundowns)
16’ – Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund)
34’ – Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund)
45’ – Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
59’ – Khuliso Mudau – Own Goal (Borussia Dortmund)
62’ – Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns)
90’ – Lego Mothiba (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Discipline
64’ – Carney Chukwuemeka (Borussia Dortmund) – Yellow Card
66’ – Tashreeq Matthews (Mamelodi Sundowns) – Yellow Card
85’ – Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund) – Yellow Card
90+5’ – Marcelo Allende (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Lineups
Mamelodi Sundowns: Ronwen Williams, Grant Kekana, Keanu Cupido, Khuliso Mudau, Divine Lunga, Teboho Mokoena (69’ – Jayden Adam’s), Marcelo Allende, Themba Zwane (86’ – Kutlwano Lethlhaku), Lucas Ribeiro (69’ – Arthur Sales), Iqraam Rayners (77’ – Lebo Mothiba), Tashreeq Matthews (96’ – Thapelo Morena)
Borussia Dortmund: Gregor Kobel, Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini, Niklas Süle (83’ – Julian Ryerson), Jobe Bellingham (83’ – Maximilian Beier), Felix Nmecha (62’ – Marcel Sabitzer), Pascal Groß, Daniel Svensson, Yan Couto, Julian Brandt (62’ – Carney Chukwuemeka), Serhou Guirassy (90+2’ – Karin Adeyemi)
