Sundowns’ brave rally falls short in seven-goal Club World Cup epic
Mamelodi Sundowns traded blows with Borussia Dortmund in a pulsating seven-goal contest but ultimately slipped to a 4-3 defeat, leaving qualification from Group F delicately poised going into the final match of the group.
The South African champions, fresh from beating Ulsan HD, stunned the Bundesliga heavyweights after 11 minutes.
Play-maker Lucas Ribeiro glided away from midfield traffic, accelerated between two defenders and slipped a composed finish beneath Gregor Kobel.
Dortmund shook off the shock within five minutes. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, so dependable in Orlando, miscued a pass straight to Felix Nmecha, who swept the gift into an empty net.
The equaliser steadied Edin Terzić’s side and exposed Masandawana’s occasional vulnerability when playing out from the back.
Pressure began to build down Sundowns’ right and paid dividends on 34 minutes. Julian Brandt wriggled to the by-line and delivered an inviting cross that in-form Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy met with a thumping header for 2-1.
Worse followed in first-half stoppage time: debutant Jobe Bellingham – younger brother of Jude – collected Williams’ punched clearance on the edge of the box and rifled a volley through a crowd to give Dortmund clear daylight at the interval.
Sundowns returned with renewed intent, Tebogo Mokoena grazing the side-netting from a free-kick, yet they fell further behind just before the hour.
Danish full-back Daniel Svensson curled a deep cross that defender Khuliso Mudau, tracking back, inadvertently diverted past his own goalkeeper.
Instead of folding, Sundowns’ flair resurfaced. Three minutes later Mokoena rattled the upright from another set-piece, and poacher Iqraam Rayners reacted first to force the rebound home – his second goal of the competition.
Substitute Lebo Mothiba then set up a grandstand finish, side-footing in Jayden Adams’ low centre on 90 minutes.
Miguel Cardoso’s men poured forward during eight frantic added minutes, but Dortmund survived a late skirmish in their six-yard box to claim their first points of the campaign.
Fluminense’s earlier draw with Ulsan leaves all four sides still in the hunt. Sundowns face the Brazilians next needing victory to be certain, while Dortmund meet win-less Ulsan.
For African supporters, the dream of a quarter-final place remains alive – but Masandawana can ill-afford further defensive generosity.
