Bundesliga
Jobe Bellingham scored his first goal for Borussia Dortmund on his maiden start for the club as BVB came from behind to beat Mamelodi Sundowns 4-3 in their second Group F fixture at the FIFA Club World Cup, edging them closer to a place in the last 16.
Mamelodi Sundowns 3-4 Borussia Dortmund
Goals: 1-0 Ribeiro 11’, 1-1 Nmecha 16’, 1-2 Guirassy 34’, 1-3 Bellingham 45’, 1-4 Mudau (o.g.) 59’, 2-4 Rayners 62', 3-4 Mothiba 90'
Victory was not immediately on the cards for Niko Kovač’s side in Cincinnati, Ohio, with former BVB youth player Tashreeq Matthews drawing a save from Gregor Kobel after just five minutes.
The South African side took the lead a short while later, when Lucas Ribeiro danced through Dortmund’s midfield and bore down on Kobel’s goal, with a teammate either side of him, before coolly slotting in for the game’s opener.
BVB had struggled to create chances in their 0-0 draw against Fluminense in their first game, but they were handed a way back here when Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams misplaced a pass straight to the feet of Felix Nmecha, who rolled into the empty net from close range.
The Sundowns retained a threat on the break, particularly through the pace and trickery of Matthews and Ribeiro, but Dortmund grew into the game and took the lead shortly after the half-hour mark when Serhou Guirassy thundered in a header from Julian Brandt’s cross.
Bellingham gave his new side a two-goal cushion on the stroke of half-time, chesting the ball down after Williams parried Brandt’s cross and then rifling in from the edge of the area.
Dortmund seemed to lose their composure at the start of the second period, however, with uncharacteristic errors and misplaced passes in defence allowing their opposition to grow in confidence.
Kobel produced another fantastic close-range save to deflect Themba Zwane’s shot onto the bar, before Teboho Mokoena’s 30-yard free-kick grazed the woodwork on its way over moments later.
Any hopes of a Sundowns comeback appeared to to be dashed when Khuliso Mudau inadvertently turned a Daniel Svensson cross into his own net to put Dortmund 4-1 up, but they set up a grandstand finale when Iqraam Rayners headed in from close range.
And when substitute Lebo Mothiba pulled another goal back in the 90th minute, Dortmund faced six nerve-wracking minutes of stoppage time. They held on, however, for a crucial victory that leaves them with one foot in the round of 16.
Teams
Mamelodi: Williams - Mudau, Kekana, Cupido, Lunga - Allende, Zwane (c) (Letlhaku 86'), Mokoena (Adams 69') - Ribeiro (Sales 69'), Matthews (Morena 69'), Rayners (Mothiba 77')
Unused subs: Onyango, Khoza, Lebusa, Mdunyelwa, Mvala, Modiba, Maema, Aubaas, Mkhulise, Shalulile
Out: -
Coach: Miguel Cardoso
Dortmund: Kobel - Süle (Ryerson 83'), Anton, Bensebaini - Couto, Nmecha (Sabitzer 62'), Groß, Svensson - Bellingham (Beier 83'), Brandt (c) (Chukwuemeka 62') - Guirassy (Adeyemi 90'+2)
Unused subs: Meyer, Mané, Coulibaly, Benkara, Azhil, Reyna, Duranville, Campbell, Inacio, Gittens
Out: Can (adductor), Özcan (knee), Schlotterbeck (knee)
Coach: Niko Kovač
As it happened!
Sundowns have their tails up here as they chase an equaliser, but, as of yet, they haven't managed to truly threaten the Dortmund goal again.
Six additional minutes are indicated.
Couto doesn't give up on a high ball over the top and wins it on the edge of the Sundowns box. He crosses towards Beier, who miskicks it, sending the ball into the path of Guirassy. The No. 9 then lays it off for Svensson, who comes charging in to hit it first-time with his right foot, but his effort is blocked by the sea of legs inside the box.
The young forward is the latest player to go into the book for a foul on Mudau by the left touchline.
Süle and Bellingham leave the field to rapturous applause with the both of them having shown really good performances for Dortmund. They're replaced by Ryerson and Beier as Dortmund seemingly switch from a back-three to a back-four.
The veteran midfielder plays a searching cross towards his No. 9 from a relatively central position. It's a good ball, but Mamelodi manage to head it clear.
The Englishman takes a tumble in the box under the challenge from Cupido and appeals for a penalty, but the referee correctly dismisses the protest.
As in the first half, there is a stoppage whilst the players rehydrate in the sun here in Cincinnati.
Dortmund's No. 9 picks Adams' pocket and drives down the right channel towards the goal. His effort from just inside the box is well hit, but blocked.
Sundowns make three consecutive substitutions as they try to find a way back into this one. Goalscorer Ribeiro departs, alongside former Dortmund man Matthews and Mokoena, all to be replaced by Morena, Adams and Sales.
Groß takes the set-piece, curling a great ball onto the head of Bensebaini, who guides it towards the bottom left corner. However, Williams is equal to the attempt, getting across to push it behind for a corner.
The former Dortmund man sees yellow for a late challenge on Süle.
Chukwuemeka gets the first yellow card of the match for a foul on Allende after being on the pitch for a little over a minute.
From a Sundowns free-kick about 25 yards from goal, Mokoena opts to shoot, forcing another great save out of Kobel who dives to his right to just tip it over the bar for a corner. Nothing comes of the subsequent set-piece for Mamelodi, however.
Once again, Sundowns pick up a loose ball in the middle of the park. Allende shoots from the edge of the box, but this time, his shot is blocked. It falls back to the No. 11, who threads it through for Rayners, who has a one-on-one with Kobel, but the Swiss goalkeeper pulls off a remarkable save to tip the forward's effort onto the bar. It wouldn't have counted anyway though, as the assistant had their flag raised.
Sundowns pounce on a loose ball in the middle and look to launch a quick attack. Ribeiro lays it off to Allende, whose shot is wide of the mark.
The Swedish left-back takes some time getting back to his feet following a challenge from Ribeiro and seems to be in some discomfort, but is continuing for now.
Guirassy gifts the ball to Sundowns, who launch a quick counter-attack. Matthews plays it across the box from the left, but Ribeiro's attempted shot flies well over the bar and behind for a goal-kick.
Groß swings it in from the left towards the six-yard box, but a foul on goalkeeper Williams sees Sundowns given a free-kick.
It's Mamelodi who get the second half up and running again here in Cincinnati.
Dortmund's star striker has found the target again today. Check out all of his goals in the Bundesliga last season.
A fantastic cross from Svensson with his weak foot finds Guirassy at the far post, who has a free header, but Williams comes across to parry it clear, denying the Guinean his brace.
Bellingham launches a counter-attack with a fantastic pass out wide the Brandt on the right. The Englishman continues his run, getting onto the return pass from the No. 10, before trying to make room for a shot which gets blocked before the flag goes up for offside against Bellingham.
An Anton foul gives Mamelodi a free-kick inside the Dortmund half. Allende takes, crossing it into the BVB box, but a Dortmund head is first to it. It drops to Mokoena on the edge of the box, but his venomous follow-up effort is well off target.
Groß takes another corner from the left for Dortmund, but his delivery is too close to Williams, who gets up well to pluck it out of the air.
Sundowns' No. 10 once again demonstrates his dribbling ability, shaking his marker before shooting from inside the box. His initial effort is blocked and he hits the follow-up, but it's deflected again, going behind for a corner, upon which Mamelodi don't manage to capitalise.
There's a brief stoppage whilst the players rehydrate in the intense heat in Cincinnati.