Dortmund Edge Ulsan to Secure First Place in Group F and Advance to Club World Cup Knockouts
Borussia Dortmund booked their place in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Korean champions Ulsan HD, finishing top of Group F in the process. Despite dominating large spells of the match, Niko Kovac’s side were made to work for their win in the blistering Cincinnati heat, with Ulsan’s goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo producing a standout performance to keep the scoreline respectable.
Dortmund entered the match knowing a draw would be enough to guarantee qualification, but they pushed forward from the outset, looking for a statement win. Their intent was clear early on, as they controlled possession and territory with ease, forcing Ulsan onto the back foot throughout the first half.
Jo Hyeon-woo, however, proved difficult to beat. The Korean shot-stopper made a brilliant one-handed save to deny Serhou Guirassy, who had powered a close-range effort toward goal. Moments later, Jobe Bellingham found himself with a golden opportunity to open the scoring, but the young English midfielder volleyed over the bar with his right foot.
Bellingham continued to be involved in Dortmund’s attacking phases. He saw one shot blocked and dragged another wide as frustration briefly began to grow. But persistence paid off in the 36th minute, when Bellingham slid a smart ball into the path of Daniel Svensson. The Swedish full-back made no mistake, taking a clean first touch before drilling his shot past Jo to give Dortmund a deserved lead.
36′ First assist of the tournament for Jobe Bellingham. ✅ Svensson finishes it off. 1-0.
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Despite going behind, Jo continued to shine in goal for Ulsan. Just minutes later, he made an exceptional reflex save with his left leg to deny Pascal Gross a second goal for Dortmund. Another quick reaction stop from a Guirassy header saw him keep Ulsan within touching distance heading into the break.
Ulsan, who had managed little attacking threat in the first half, showed more ambition after the interval. Their first shot on target came when Kang Sang-woo cut inside and fired low, but Gregor Kobel gathered it comfortably. A few minutes later, Lee Jin-hyun tested the Dortmund keeper from a narrow angle, but again Kobel was up to the task.
Dortmund had chances to put the game to bed but couldn’t capitalize. Ramy Bensebaini got on the end of a pinpoint cross from Svensson but headed over the bar, missing a clear opportunity to extend the lead. As the game wore on, Ulsan started to look more dangerous, committing more players forward while still being vulnerable at the back.
As Dortmund sought to seal the result, Yan Couto had one last clear sight of goal in the final minutes, only to be denied again by Jo — who cemented his place as one of the top individual performers of the tournament so far. The South Korean international finished the match with several key saves and played a crucial role in keeping Ulsan’s deficit to just one.
Despite the narrow scoreline, Dortmund’s overall control of the match was never in doubt. Their midfield trio managed the tempo effectively, and the backline remained solid even when Ulsan pushed forward in the second half.
The win also marked Ulsan’s fourth straight defeat across all competitions — their worst losing streak since 2018. For manager Kim Pan-gon, the result was disappointing, but his team’s second-half improvement and Jo’s incredible goalkeeping were clear positives to take from the match.
With the victory, Dortmund finish top of Group F and will now prepare for a last-16 clash against the Group E runners-up, with the match set for next Tuesday in Atlanta. It’s a major step forward in their Club World Cup campaign and a confidence boost for Niko Kovac’s side, who now carry momentum into the knockout rounds.
Group F: Final Standings
1️⃣ Borussia Dortmund
2️⃣ FluminenseBoth teams are through to the Round of 16.
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Meanwhile, Ulsan exit the tournament without a win, but with pride intact thanks to their second-half fight and the heroics of their keeper. Dortmund, though, march on — efficient, composed, and with a clear focus on making a deep run in the competition.
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