Fluminense 2-1 Al Hilal Player Ratings: Matheus Martinelli Rated 8/10 as Fluminense Prevail Over Saudi Giants to Storm into Club World Cup Semis

The Quarter-final clash of the FIFA Club World Cup between Fluminense and Al Hilal took us to Orlando, at the Camping World Stadium. The Semi-Final spot was at stake, and after a thrilling encounter, the Brazilian side, Fluminense FC, emerged victorious, securing a narrow 2-1 victory.

Fluminense initiated the proceedings, and both teams were feeling each other in the early moments, with no such real attacks. Al-Hilal created trouble for the Brazilian side as they attempted to make some quick counterattacks from the wings, same way they did with City, but this time there was no trouble for the keeper. Fluminense had the bulk of the possession while the Saudi side was comfortable sitting back and making quick attacking initiatives. Just ahead of the break, Martinelli opened the accounts for Fluminense as he took a stunning shot from the edge of the box to provide his team the upper edge at halftime.

In the second half of the Fluminense FC vs Al Hilal match, the pendulum swung and the momentum shifted as Al Hilal found the equaliser from the services of Leonardo, who cracked in the ball after winning the header from Koulibaly to make it 1-1. Around 20 minutes later, the substitute Hercules displayed individual brilliance to score the second goal for the Brazilian side and win the quarter-final, sealing tickets for the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final.

Here are the Fluminense vs Al Hilal Player Ratings:

Fluminense Player Ratings

Here are the Fluminense Player Ratings from Fluminense vs Al Hilal Player Ratings:

Goalkeeper

Fabio - 6/10

Forty-four-year-old Fabio flew through the air to make some brilliant saves in the match. Had great reflexes to save a header off Koulibaly that came off a Ruben Neves freekick.

Defenders

Ignacio - 7/10

Ignacio made a good block to charge down Nasser Al Dawsari's shot from a tight angle. Did well to head away from the resulting corner that came towards Koulibaly. Later, he had a great role in clearing away the ball whenever the opponents created trouble for them. Was present everywhere where his presence was needed and he did his duties perfectly in the Fluminense vs Al Hilal game.

Thiago Silva - 6.5/10

Silva had a solid day at the office. The Brazilian defender was a warrior and stood strong even at 40. He made regular clearances, blocks, and interceptions throughout the minutes played. Was involved in a clash with Leonardo, where he was booked by the referee. Adding to the misfortune, the boot of the opponent accidentally hit the player and he was slightly bleeding. Nevertheless, Silva kept going and gave it all for his team.

Juan Freytes - 6.5/10

Freytes was the first Fluminense booking of the day as he stuck out a high ball which caught Malcom in the wings. Fired in some angled balls, but none of his mates could convert the crosses. Was seen contributing more to the attack and moving higher up the pitch than being remote in the defence.

Midfielders

Samuel Xavier - 7.2/10

Samuel was clever as he put his body to the ball and made Lodi go to the back of him and commit a foul, to book him under the referee, effectively restricting his further play. Made a good run in the right to make a cross inside the box that led to his team scoring the opener in the Fluminense vs Al Hilal FC game.

Matheus Martinelli - 8/10

Martinelli had a delightful first half. He was seen challenging the Al Hilal captain in the midfield during multiple instances and winning duels with him. In the 40th minute, Martinelli took a stunning, powerful shot from the edge of the boc to find the opener for his team. Surprisingly, he was subbed off just ahead of the second half, probably due to an injury.

Facundo Bernal - 6/10

Bernal's name was not celebrated much throughout the game. However the player displayed a solid performance in the midfield, not allowing the opponents to enter his half. Had a good share of successful duels and clearances in the match.

Gabriel Fuentes - 6.5/10

Fuentes was like a fox in the box, constantly lurking in the attacking third to press and win ball from the opponents. Just five minutes ahead of the break, Fuentes made a run in an attempt to win a cross that almost everyone thought went out of play. To his stroke of luck, the opponent made a mistake in clearing it, and the ball came to the player who assisted the first goal.

Gustavo Nonato - 6/10

The player tried to attack from the early minutes, but most of his shots were overhit and went well off-target after the accumulated pressure from Ruben Neves. Apart from that, the player was pretty good in the midfield, dispossessing the opponents and recovering the balls providing momentum for his team.

Forward

Jhon Arias- 6/10

Arias was rarely seen inside the box to contribute towards the attacks, as his presence was predominantly felt in the wings. However, this did not benefit his team as there was no one to connect the crosses provided from the wings inside the box.

German Cano - 5/10

Cano was silent for the entire first half, with almost zero contribution to his team. In the second half, when the scores were tied, he had a golden opportunity to regain the lead as he came in a 1v1 situation with the keeper. But in the very end, he fumbled, which gave the keeper time to make the save.

Substitutes

Hercules - 7/10

What a day Hercules had. Came in as a substitute and had a dream game. Won the ball in the midfield after pressing the opponent, made a run and took a shot which hit the opponent. However the player made a forward run, won the header given by his teammate to take a shot to double the delight for Fluminense.

Lima - 6/10

Everaldo - 6/10

Guga - NA

Thiago Santos - NA

Manager

Renato Portaluppi - /10

The coach had a brilliant day. His team had the steering wheel of the game for the vast majority of the match. Once when they slipped and the opponents scored, his timely substitutions and ability to help the team regroup meant that his team had the final laugh.

Al Hilal Player Ratings

Here are the Al Hilal Player Ratings from Fluminense vs Al Hilal Player Ratings:

Goalkeeper

Yassine Bounou - 6.5/10

Bounou did not have much to do in the first half as the opponents did not make any real attempts to goal. However, just a few minutes ahead of the break, Martinelli took a stunning strike where the keeper had nothing to do to prevent it from finding the back of the net. In the second, half he exceptionally saved a 1v1 attempt with Cano.

Defenders

Moteb Al-Harbi - 6.8/10

Moteb had a dominating performance in the left flank during the first half. The player won all the duels he was involved in, provided some crosses and long balls and maintained a perfect passing accuracy.

Renan Lodi - 5.5/10

The loanee from Nottingham sent some crosses after venturing deep into the left wing, but most of the time, his teammates were unable to gather the ball. The player was pretty average in the game, not excelling in most of the aspects he was involved in. The yellow card that he received further affected his game adversely.

Ruben Neves - 6.8/10

Neves, though naturally a midfielder, was deployed in the heart of the defence for the match. Defended Gustavo Nonato pretty effectively and kept him silent for a long period of time. Took some beautiful free kicks which created tensions for the keeper.

Kalidou Koulibaly - 7.7/10

Koulibaly made his presence felt both in the attack and the defence. Made some interceptions and tackles in the defence. In the attack, he made a stunning header on target off a free kick, which was destined to be a goal, but the keeper denied the attempt. In the second half, the player again attempted a header, which went to Leonardo, who at last scored the opener. Was arguably the best performer of the match; however, individual performances do not win matches, and he had to be on the losing side.

Joao Cancelo - 5.5/10

The experienced Cancelo made a terrible error just ahead of the break as in an attempt to clear the ball, he gifted the ball to the opponents who were lurking in the box which paved the way for the opponents to break the deadlock. Did not display the quality which was required for the knockout.

Midfielders

Nasser Al-Dawsari - 6.5/10

Dawsari had a good performance in the left flank. Contributed both defensively and offensively and won almost all the duels involved in. Provided crosses and had a good day at the office.

Mohamed Kanno - 6.5/10

Kanno was seen everywhere in the midfield covering almost every blade of grass. Had a decent performance with a decent stat in most of the aspects involved in. Was however unable to contribute into attack and was subbed off to shift into a much more offensive approach.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic - 6/10

Saw that his centre-back was out of position and took down an opponent to help his team regroup, but to his dismay, he was booked by the referee for this rash foul. Savic was given some crosses, but was unable to connect them as most of them was just too much in front of him.

Malcom - 6/10

Malcom was the target man for most of the attacking initiatives of Al Hilal. However the player was not much mobile and remained more or less in the left flank. This lack of mobility meant that the player was unable to contribute much into the game.

Forward

Marcos Leonardo - 6.8/10

Had an opportunity to create some trouble for the opponents by providing a key pass to Malcon, but unfortunately, the player overhit the through pass which was easily carried by the opponent keeper. In the second half he was present inside the bx at the right place at the right time as he won a ball from Koulibaly and take a powerful shot at goal to mark the equaliser.

Substitutes

Hamdallah - 6/10

Ali Albulayhi - 6/10

Kaio Cesar- 6/10

Hamad Al Yami - NA

Musab Al Juwayr - NA

Manager

Simone Inzaghi - 6/10

Inzaghi would be pretty disappointed at his players as both the goals conceded came off silly errors which could have been avoided if the players were tad bit more cautious.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match goes to Matheus Martinelli