Allende backing belief as Sundowns face Fluminense in Club World Cup decider

In their upcoming 2025 Fifa Club World Cup clash against Brazilian Série A side Fluminense, the equation is brutally simple for Mamelodi Sundowns: win or go home.

But Sundowns’ Chilean midfielder Marcelo Allende remains unfazed by the do-or-die situation, confident that the South Africans will secure victory, advance from Group F, and book their place in the Round of 16. The match takes place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, US, at 9pm.

After a promising start to the tournament with a win against South Korea’s Ulsan HD, Sundowns suffered a setback when they were defeated by Borussia Dortmund in their second game on Saturday. The results mean that only a win against Fluminense will suffice; a draw will not be enough due to Dortmund’s superior head-to-head record.

“I think we fought well against Dortmund. We know the level of this tournament and we understand how big the team we played against is,” said Allende, reflecting on Saturday’s performance.

“We fought until the final whistle; we made mistakes, but it’s our play, our style. We played until the end – that’s the way we know.”

While disappointed by missed opportunities, Allende praised his team’s spirit throughout the tournament.

“Of course, there’s always that feeling we could have achieved more, but I am very proud of my team,” he said.

“Even after the mistakes, we kept playing. We kept fighting, and we scored two more goals after we were 4-1 down. That’s a positive takeaway. Now it’s about recovery and getting ready to fight again – this time against Fluminense.”

Allende anticipates a tough match against the Brazilian side, also known as the Big Flu, acknowledging their strong reputation and technical quality. However, his belief in Sundowns’ capabilities remains steadfast.

“It’s going to be an exciting game against a good opponent who likes to play. So it will be a lovely game,” he said.

He stressed the importance of capitalising on every opportunity and limiting mistakes: “The mistakes we made against Dortmund – the level they play at – they give you nothing. If you give them one chance, they score, and that’s what happened.”

As the team regroups for the decisive fixture, Allende called for unity and focus.

“We learn. We need to keep together in the next few days, recover, and prepare for the next game. We will fight, yes. Big yes, we can do it,” he declared, exuding the determination required at this level.

Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has his work cut out. Fluminense boast a squad filled with talent and experience – none more so than their iconic defender, Thiago Silva.

A footballing legend who has represented AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, Silva’s presence alone is testament to Fluminense’s pedigree. Intriguingly, Cardoso’s path nearly crossed with Silva’s early in their respective careers: when Silva began his European journey at FC Porto in 2004, Cardoso had just joined Belenenses, having left behind a youth coaching role at Porto’s academy.