German Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund edged South Korea’s Ulsan HD to qualify for the last 16 of the Club World Cup as Group F winners.
Niko Kovac’s side came into the final group game in Cincinnati knowing a point would take them through to the knockout stage.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn front of thousands of empty seats at the Bank of America Stadium, Jobe Bellingham registered his first assist in Dortmund colours when he set up Daniel Svensson to score the only goal of the game.
Bellingham was close to scoring his second goal since his move from Sunderland, but his ensuing volley was high over the bar.
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Wing-back Yan Couto thought he had made sure of the success for the German side late on, but Ulsan goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo produced a stunning fingertip save.
Elsewhere in Group F, Brazil’s Fluminense also advanced to the knockout stage in second spot after a goalless draw with South African side Mamelodi Sundowns, who finished third in the table.
Group F leaders Dortmund will face the runners-up in Group E in the last 16 on 2 July in Atlanta.
Inter Milan currently occupy that position, but they face leaders Argentina’s River Plate on Thursday at 2am.
Fluminense will take on the Group E winners on 30 June in Charlotte.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
