Fluminense Don Do Big Wahala Beat Al Hilal for Club World Cup 2025 Quarterfinals—E Be Like Party!
Oya, make we yarn about wetin happen on July 4, 2025, for FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals! Fluminense, those Brazilian boys wey dey surprise everybody, don go beat Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia 2-1 for Camping World Stadium, Orlando! Chai, e be like one sweet upset wey carry Fluminense enter semifinal, and e even set stage for one emotional reunion with Thiago Silva old club, Chelsea, after dem beat Palmeiras 2-1 later that day.
Dis match na full package of joy, tears, and mad energy—e be like Nollywood film for 2025 tournament, abeg!
E start with one heavy heart moment. Dem do one minute silence to remember Liverpool’s Diogo Jota and him brother Andre Silva wey pass on from car crash yesterday.
Al Hilal Portuguese boys, João Cancelo and Rúben Neves, nearly cry their eyes comot, tears dey drop as dem stand for pitch. E be like sad vibe hold dem small after their wahala 4-3 extra-time win over Manchester City.
But Fluminense, dem dey strong! Captain Thiago Silva give one pep talk before match, talk about how e regret no visit him stepfather during 2014 World Cup—e fire up the team well well!
Boom, e get breakthrough late for first half when Matheus Martinelli turn to magician! After Cancelo do one bad clear, Martinelli collect pass from Gabriel Fuentes, turn quick, and bang one sweet left-foot goal pass Yassine Bounou! Fluminense boys and fans shout like say dem win lottery, e be like party don start! The 23-year-old boy make Silva, wey don reach 40, dey smile with proud eye wey get small surprise.
Al Hilal come back for second half, equalize with Marcos Leonardo header from Kalidou Koulibaly cross—e be like their bench wan jump enter pitch! But wait, e no end there! For 70th minute, substitute Hércules, wey nobody dey rate, score one cool goal from Samuel Xavier header. Stadium burst open, Renato Gaúcho dey dance like DJ, e be pure joy!
Last minutes na real heart race! Al Hilal attack like lion, shoot 14 times, 8 from inside box, and get 3 corners back-to-back. Thiago Silva, even with blood for him nose from one rough play, stand like rock. Goalkeeper Fábio, at 44, save dem with big stops against Koulibaly and Musab Al Juwayr for extra time.
Tension high pass mountain! When referee blow final whistle, Fluminense boys fall down for joy, dey hug each other, while Al Hilal’s Neves and Cancelo dey look like say rain fall their parade. Inzaghi say him boys try, but e hint say “outside wahala” affect dem—e mean that sad tribute before match.
For Fluminense, e be like victory dance! Silva leadership and team spirit turn 40.2% chance to reach semifinal (per Opta) to sweet reality. Fans for social media dey call am “fairytale run,” dey sing “Time de Guerreiros” (Team of Warriors) like chorus. Al Hilal, with their $21 million money and 59.8% chance, fall hand to Fluminense strong defense and bench power—four of their eight goals na from substitute!
Now, e don reach semifinal time, July 8 for New Jersey! Chelsea late 2-1 win over Palmeiras with Malo Gusto deflected goal set up sweet reunion with Silva, wey play for dem from 2020 to 2024. The 40-year-old tell DAZN, “I dey root for Chelsea, but e no go easy. I go love to face dem!” E be mix of love and fight, with him 154 appearances and 2021 Champions League win still dey fresh. E go be mad clash—Silva old teammates like Pedro Neto go face him new Fluminense squad wey only conceed three goals for tournament.
Dis semifinal na big deal! Chelsea get European swag, but Fluminense get underdog vibe, with Silva and maybe Reece James leading. E go full emotion—Silva history add pepper! E go be Silva wey go do another upset, or Chelsea wey go use familiarity win? We go know for one game wey mix football skill with personal story!
Fluminense win over Al Hilal na more than score—e be proof say heart fit beat money! With Chelsea reunion ahead, e be like stage don set for semifinal wey fit define Silva legacy and Fluminense mad journey. As dem dey prepare, the world dey watch, ready to see if this fairy tale fit hold body against old friends!