Jobe Bellingham opened his goal account for Borussia Dortmund in dramatic fashion as the German side edged South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns 4-3 in a pulsating Club World Cup clash on Saturday.
The 18-year-old English midfielder, who joined Dortmund this month following in the footsteps of his older brother Jude, earned his first start for the club and made it count with a well-taken goal.
Despite sweltering heat at Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium, Sundowns shocked Dortmund by taking an early lead.
Lucas Ribeiro stunned the German side in the 11th minute with a dazzling solo effort, surging from his own half before slotting past Gregor Kobel, a moment that seemingly validated Dortmund coach Niko Kovac’s concerns about the “southern teams”having an edge in such conditions.
However, the Bundesliga outfit responded with intent. A costly error by Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams gifted Felix Nmecha a simple equaliser, and Dortmund capitalised on the momentum.
Serhou Guirassy then fired Dortmund ahead, rising to meet Julian Brandt’s cross with a powerful header after Dortmund had won the ball high up the pitch. Guirassy, enjoying a rich vein of form this season, made no mistake.
Just before halftime, Bellingham added Dortmund’s third. After Williams failed to deal with a cross, the midfielder brought the ball down on his chest and rifled it home.
“It’s a nice bonus (to score), I’m glad we won, but there are a lot of things for me to improve on personally and for the team,” Bellingham told DAZN.
The goal was no accident, according to Bellingham, who revealed how much work went into perfecting such a moment.
“I’ve practised that so many times, arriving late on the edge of the box as a midfielder is something you have to be good at,” he explained. “As a kid and at Sunderland, I’ve practised that so many times, during training, after training, so I’m proud of it.”
Dortmund fans saluted the young midfielder with a familiar tune, adapting the Beatles’ “Hey Jude” chant — a nod to his brother Jude Bellingham, who starred for the club before moving to Real Madrid.
“I didn’t hear that, but it’s nice,” said Bellingham with a smile.
Dortmund looked set for a comfortable finish when a defensive error saw Sundowns’ Kuliso Mudau inadvertently turn a cross into his own net, making it 4-1.
But the South African champions, who have dominated their domestic league with eight consecutive titles, refused to bow out quietly.
Iqraam Rayners, who had scored their winner in the opener against Ulsan HD, clawed one back by following up his own header off the post. Then, in the 90th minute, Lebo Mothiba struck again for Sundowns, cutting the deficit to one.
The final six minutes of stoppage time were tense for Dortmund, but they held on to take all three points and move top of Group F.
After the match, Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso praised his team’s spirited display despite the loss.
“The result is not what we wanted, but we made a wonderful game,” Cardoso told DAZN. “It’s important people understand what was at stake in this match. (Considering) The level of the team that we played against was fantastic.
“The boys made a wonderful performance… it was a hell of a match. I’m not happy but very proud.”
Later in the evening, Group F rivals Fluminense and Ulsan were set to face off at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, with the group’s outcome still wide open.
