GO BIG OR GO HOME

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 tonight.

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.

And Allende says: “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.

“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 [we have to get] 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.

As the team regroups for the decisive fixture, Allende called for unity and focus, saying: “We will fight, yes. Big yes, we can do it.” 

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.