In a thrilling Club World Cup quarterfinal match, Brazil's Fluminense secured a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal, thanks to a decisive goal from substitute Hercules. The game, held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, saw a spirited performance from both sides in front of a crowd of 43,091 fans.

The first half was marked by physical play and tactical maneuvering. Matheus Martinelli broke the deadlock for Fluminense in the 40th minute with a fine left-footed shot, giving his team a 1-0 lead. Al Hilal, however, responded quickly in the second half, with Marcos Leonardo leveling the score in the 51st minute.

The turning point came in the 70th minute when Hercules, who had been substituted into the game, found the back of the net, securing a 2-1 lead for Fluminense and ultimately the victory. This marks Hercules' second crucial goal in the tournament, having also scored the winner against Inter Milan in the previous round.

Al Hilal, despite their best efforts, were unable to break through Fluminense's defense in the remaining minutes. The Saudi Arabian side had previously pulled off a major upset by defeating Manchester City 4-3 to reach the quarterfinals.

Fluminense's coach, Renato Gaúcho, acknowledged the challenges his team faced and praised their resilience. Al Hilal's coach, Simone Inzaghi, lauded his players' efforts and highlighted their achievements throughout the tournament, including remaining unbeaten in the group stage and drawing with Real Madrid.

Fluminense will now face Chelsea in the semifinal round at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The match began with a moment of silence to honor Liverpool's Diogo Jota and his brother, who tragically passed away. Despite the somber atmosphere, both teams displayed determination and skill throughout the game.

The first half saw few clear-cut chances until Martinelli's stunning goal, which ignited the crowd. Al Hilal nearly equalized before halftime, but Fluminense's goalkeeper, Fabio, made a remarkable save to deny Kalidou Koulibaly's header. Al Hilal thought they had been awarded a penalty, but after Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, the decision was overturned.

Al Hilal's equalizer in the second half came from Marcos Leonardo, following a corner kick. However, Fluminense responded swiftly with Hercules' decisive goal. Despite Al-Hilal having the majority of possession in the final 15 minutes, Fluminense's defense stood firm.