Staff Reporter.
Fluminense have beaten Al Hilal 2-1 in Orlando on Friday, becoming the first team to advance to the Club World Cup semi-final.
Fluminese will face Chelsea on Tuesday (20:00 BST) in New Jersey, after the Blues beat Palmeiras 2-1.
The match began with players and fans observing a minute’s silence in memory of Liverpool’s Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva, who both died in a car crash on Thursday.
Matheus Martinelli gave them the lead with a wonderful finish into the top corner from 16 yards out from Gabriel Fuentes’ pass.
Al-Hilal had a penalty overturned by the video assistant referee when Samuel Xavier clipped Marcos Leonardo accidentally.
But they got their equaliser when Kalidou Koulibaly’s header fell to Leonardo, who netted from close range – his fourth goal of the tournament.
Fluminense found the winner though when Xavier headed the ball down to substitute Hercules, who slotted a shot into the bottom corner.
Al-Hilal piled on plenty of late pressure but could not find an equaliser to force extra time.
“I really want to congratulate my squad for the way that they played, they poured their hearts out on the pitch tonight,” said the Al-Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi. “And of course we are sorry but we need to be proud.”