Inauspicious beginning: Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense end scoreless in their exhibition match

Slim Escape for Borussia Dortmund: 0-0 Draw Against Fluminense in Club World Cup Opener

Struggling to find their footing, Borussia Dortmund failed to make a mark in the Club World Cup opener, managing a luck-laden 0-0 draw against Brazilian powerhouse Fluminense.

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New Jersey - Dortmund started the Club World Cup with a nail-biting 0-0 stalemate against Fluminense from Rio de Janeiro. Despite an unconventional midday kickoff, the German side initially held their own, even without the late entrance of Jude Bellingham. Playing catch-up, the four-time Brazilian champions were the more aggressive, dangerous, and fitter team.

According to definite Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, DAZN's guru, "Fluminense was better, fresher, more aggressive, better in duels, and had the chance." The Swiss keeper admitted that their performance left much to be desired. "We had set ourselves much higher goals. That was far too little today. We have to admit it to ourselves," he candidly admitted.

Süle's Scathing Critique

It was crucial to keep a clean sheet to salvage the draw following their underpar performance. "We were weak with the ball," firmly stated defender Niklas Süle. Although the team mustered up a point, Süle highlighted they could set much higher standards. A seemingly discontented Süle frankly admitted their performance was significantly below par.

Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac echoed Süle's sentiments. "It was a pity to miss out on a win, but we can live with the draw," he conceded. Kovac acknowledged their performance was far from their best, but given the circumstances, heive to make the best of the situation.

The 34,736 spectators at the MetLife Stadium, a usual abode for NFL teams like the New York Giants and New York Jets, seemed a bit alienated. The stadium's full capacity is slightly more than the Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park, but attendance in the Club World Cup wasn't as robust, with only a few thousand BVB fans present. To no one's surprise, the Fluminense fans, who traveled from Brazil, outnumbered and outshouted the Dortmund supporters.

Fluminense's Domination

As Kovac had anticipated, Fluminense proved to be a strong adversary, giving Dortmund a hard time from the onset. With the playmaking prowess of Thiago Silva, Fluminense maintained the upper hand and created multiple scoring opportunities, particularly in the second half. Frustrated with his team's performance, Kovac could regularly be spotted gesticulating from the sidelines.

Upcoming matches against Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa on June 19 and HD Ulsan from South Korea on June 25 are crucial for Dortmund to advance. "Now the tournament has begun, and we have to win the next two games," reassured Kobel. Reaching the knockout stage is the minimum goal for Dortmund, not only to foster competition but also for the considerable prize money increases that accompany it.

The FCB paid around 30 million euros for Bellingham, but the Englishman didn't feature in the starting lineup due to insufficient acclimation time. Kovac explained, "A week isn't enough to fully grasp all the routines and principles here."

After half-time, tense moments transpired when Dortmund's keeper, Kobel, collided with Everaldo, Fluminense's striker. Fortunately, Kobel managed to stay on his feet and later preserved Dortmund's slim lead with a spectacular save to thwart Nonato's (70') attack.

Fluminense began exerting greater control of the match as it unfolded. In response, Kovac tweaked the system, substituting Pascal Groß and Karim Adeyemi, replaced by Jude Bellingham and Felix Nmecha in the defensive midfield. However, Fabio, the Fluminense goalkeeper, remained largely untested until Süle attempted to break the deadlock with a long-distance strike late in the game.

Nonetheless, the Dortmund faithful can take solace in the fact that they salvaged a point in this shaky beginning to their Club World Cup journey. The match may serve as a much-needed wake-up call for Dortmund, who will need to advance their gameplay if they hope to compete with top-tier teams in the tournament.

[Football Club World Cup]] [Source]] [Jude Bellingham]] [Source]] [Gregor Kobel]] [Source]] [Niko Kovac]] [Source]] [Niklas Süle]] [Source]] [Thiago Silva]] [Source]] [Fabio] [Source]] [Everaldo]] [Source]] [Nonato]] [Source]] [MetLife Stadium]] [Source]] [New York Giants]] [Source]] [New York Jets]] [Source]] [Signal Iduna Park]] [Source]] [Dortmund]] [Source]] [South African]] [Source]] [Mamelodi Sundowns]] [Source]] [HD Ulsan]] [Source]] [prize money]] [Source]] [FIFA World Cup]] [Source]]

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Dortmund's sports-analysis expert, Gregor Kobel, expressed frustrations about the 0-0 draw against Fluminense, stating, "Fluminense was better, fresher, more aggressive, better in duels, and had the chance."
In a tense Club World Cup match, Dortmund's goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel, saved nonato's attack with a spectacular sports-analysis-worthy stop, preserving their slim 0-0 lead against Fluminense.