Cupido sets rallying cry as Sundowns face make-or-break Fluminese tie

Mamelodi Sundowns centre-back Keanu Cupido says the South African champions have no choice but to “give it everything” against Fluminense on Tuesday if they are to extend their FIFA Club World Cup adventure.

The Brazilians sit third in Group F after a breathless 4-3 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in Cincinnati – a match Sundowns led early before being punished by individual errors and an own goal.

Fluminense’s 4-2 win over Ulsan HD later the same evening means the Rio giants and Dortmund both have four points, with Sundowns on three.

Going into their final Group F game against the Brazilian side, the defender knows they must give it their all to be able to advance from the tricky group.

“Against Fluminense, we need to do well,” Cupido told reporters after the match.

“We have to give it our everything if we want to go through to the next stage.

“I feel like we will go home, back to the hotel, recover, rest, and then take it from there. But as a team, we want to win, we want to look for something positive out of the match.”

Miguel Cardoso’s side had stunned Dortmund when Lucas Ribeiro slalomed from halfway to open the scoring on 11 minutes, but a stray pass by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams gifted Felix Nmecha parity and the Germans capitalised to lead 3-1 at half-time.

Even after Khuliso Mudau turned a cross into his own net for 4-1, Sundowns rallied: Iqraam Rayners poached his second goal of the tournament before substitute Lebo Mothiba set up a frantic finale with a 90th-minute strike.

Cardoso praised the “bravery” of his players and claimed Dortmund “will remember this match for a long time”.

Cupido echoed those sentiments but stressed that lessons – particularly in decision-making at the back – must be applied immediately.

Victory over Fluminense in Orlando will guarantee Sundowns a quarter-final berth regardless of Dortmund’s result against win-less Ulsan. 

A draw would leave the South Africans relying on the Koreans to shock the Bundesliga side – an outcome Cupido is unwilling to gamble on.

“We came here to test ourselves against the best,” he added.

“Dortmund showed us what happens when focus slips. Now it’s about mentality: recover, reset and throw everything at Fluminese.”

Thousands of expatriate South Africans lit up TQL Stadium with vuvuzelas and will now travel to lend vocal backing in Orlando. Cupido believes that energy can tilt fine margins.