BVB pick up their first victory at the Club World Cup despite Mamelodi Sundowns giving them plenty to worry about.
After a slow start to the Club World Cup, Borussia Dortmund picked up their first three points of the tournament's group stage, beating South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns 4-3 in Cincinnati this afternoon.
Bafana ba Style came to play, taking the lead through Lucas Ribeiro after 11 minutes. While goals from Felix Nmecha, Serhou Guirassy, Jobe Bellingham, and a Khuliso Mudau own goal took the game out of Sundowns' reach, they pulled two back through Iqraam Rayners and Lebo Mothiba to keep the scoreline respectable. BVB came away with all the points, but it would be doing the underdogs a massive disservice to pretend the real story was anything other than the great account they gave of themselves, even in defeat.
Here are our nominations for Man of the Match in Borussia Dortmund's 4-3 win against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Gregor Kobel
Kobel has had a really strong start to the Club World Cup. He was the clear Man of the Match against Fluminense, and he came up strong on multiple occasions again this afternoon. I don't think there was a lot Kobel could do about the goals he conceded, but Sundowns could have had a couple more if not for Kobel's good work between the sticks.
Daniel Svensson
Svensson was busy up and down the left wing throughout, and while he wasn't credited with Dortmund's fourth goal, he deserved it.
Julian Brandt
Brandt had a hand in a lot of Dortmund's offensive threat, especially in the first half. Only picked up the one assist, but was involved in several goals.
Jobe Bellingham
Jobe claimed a nomination in his debut, mainly as a joke. Today, he earned it. He scored Dortmund's third, and he would have had an assist if their fourth hadn't been ruled as an own goal. He looked solid throughout, especially going forward.
Your Thoughts?
Borussia Dortmund are top of Group F on four points and will face Ulsan HD on Wednesday evening. How do you feel about BVB's chances of progressing to the knockouts of the Club World Cup? Let us know in the comments.
