Ulsan HD FC vs. Mamelodi Sundowns FC: Final Score 1-0 as South African Side Wins First FIFA Club World Cup Match in Orlando

The first FIFA Club World Cup match at Inter&Co Stadium took a while to get going, as a one-hour weather delay pushed the start of South Korean club Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns FC from South Africa. After the weather cleared, a small but excited crowd of 3,412 cheered on their teams. Iqraam Rayners made the Mamelodi Sundowns fans happy with the game’s only goal as the South African club won the match, 1-0.

There was a nice contingent of Ulsan fans in The Wall on the north side of the stadium, while a small sea of yellow-clad Mamelodi Sundowns fans packed one lower deck section on the west side, spending much of the match on their feet dancing and singing.

The players had just gone through introductions and took the field when the weather moved in. The game was seconds from kicking off when the announcement came for fans to seek shelter while a summer storm moved through downtown Orlando. After an hour, the teams finally kicked off.

Rayners scored the first FIFA Club World Cup goal in Orlando when Lucas Ribeiro threaded a great through ball between defenders for the Cape Town-born forward to run onto. Rayners slotted it inside the left post to put his team up 1-0 in the 36th minute.

Rayners might have had a hat trick in the first half, but his first would-be goal moments earlier off a corner kick hit his arm and was overturned by video review. The would-be third goal saw him just about half a yard offside, spoiling a nice chipped finish into the left corner from the right side of the box.

Ulsan HD had a few decent looks at goal and a couple of late corners but could not find that final bit of quality, and Mamelodi Sundowns FC took its 1-0 lead into the break.

Shots were 8-5 in favor of the South African side in the opening half, with each team putting two attempts on target. It was an evenly played half, despite Mamelodi having more possession in the attacking third.

The game continued to be evenly played in the second half, with both teams creating opportunities in a free-flowing match. Ribeiro for Hamelodi Sundowns and Seungbeom Ko for Ulsan HD produced the best chances in the first 30 minutes of the second period, but both could only win their side a corner.

Matias Lacava and Erick each had opportunities to level the game for Ulsan in the 81st minute but Ronwen Williams made a good save to deny the first attempt and his defense helped him with the second.

Tashreeq Matthews could have put the game away for Mamelodi Sundowns in the 88th minute but fired over the bar from the left.

Neither side could find the game’s second goal, and Mamelodi Sundowns held on for the win, climbing to the top of Group F following a scoreless draw earlier between Brazilian side Fluminense and Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

Mamelodi Sundowns finished with the advantage in possession (56%-37%, with 7% in contest), and shots (14-7). Ulsan HD fired shots on target (3-2) and corners (9-4).

After getting the win, Bafana ba Style will face Borussia Dortmund in Cincinnati, while the Tigers will head to New Jersey to face Fluminense. Both Group F second-round matches are Saturday.

Inter&Co Stadium will host one more match in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, as Benfica faces Auckland City on Friday at noon. Two more matches in the group stage and two knockout stage matches will be held locally at Camping World Stadium.