Jobe Bellingham marked his first start for Borussia Dortmund with a memorable debut goal, helping the German side secure a dramatic 4-3 victory over South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in a fiercely contested Club World Cup encounter on Saturday.
The English midfielder, who recently joined Dortmund from Sunderland in a €33 million deal, followed in the footsteps of his elder brother, Jude Bellingham, by signing with the Bundesliga giants. And in just his first start, Jobe made an impact, scoring just before half-time to give his side breathing room in a game filled with momentum swings and individual brilliance.
The match, played under taxing conditions at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, saw Sundowns take an early lead through Lucas Ribeiro. The Brazilian attacker carved his way from deep within his half, unleashing a solo run that ended with a composed finish past Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel in the 11th minute.
Dortmund coach Niko Kovac had earlier pointed to the heat as a potential equalizer for teams from the “south,” and early signs suggested his prediction had merit.
However, Sundowns’ early advantage was undone by a costly error. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams gifted Dortmund an equalizer by misplacing a pass straight into the path of Felix Nmecha, who made no mistake. The error set the tone for a fast-paced, open contest with both sides exchanging chances.
Dortmund seized the lead through Serhou Guirassy, the in-form Guinean striker, who rose to meet Julian Brandt’s cross with a perfectly timed header. Shortly before the break, Bellingham got his name on the scoresheet. Williams’ attempted clearance landed at the teenager’s feet after a deflection. Showing great control and composure, Bellingham chested the ball down and fired home confidently, capping off a first-half comeback.
“I’ve practised that so many times,” Bellingham said after the match. “Arriving late at the edge of the box as a midfielder is something you have to be really good at. I’m really proud of it.”
While the Dortmund fans serenaded him with a variation of the Beatles’ “Hey Jude” — a tribute once reserved for his brother Jude Bellingham — Jobe admitted he didn’t hear it, but appreciated the gesture.
Dortmund’s fourth goal came after the break when a cross aimed at the far post was inadvertently turned into his own net by Kuliso Mudau, deepening Sundowns’ woes. But the South African champions didn’t go quietly. Iqraam Rayners, the hero from their opening win against Ulsan HD, continued his fine form by reacting quickly after hitting the post with a header, nodding the rebound in to reduce the deficit.
Their fightback intensified when Lebo Mothiba scored in the 90th minute, making it 4-3 and setting up a tense finish. Dortmund were made to endure six minutes of added time before finally sealing their first win of the tournament and climbing to the top of Group F.
Despite the result, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso praised his team’s valiant display against a European powerhouse.
“The result is not what we wanted but we made a wonderful game,” Cardoso said. “The boys made a wonderful performance… it was a hell of a match. I’m not happy but very proud.”
The result puts Dortmund in a strong position in Group F, while Sundowns will now look to regroup ahead of their final group stage match. Later on Saturday, Fluminense and Ulsan HD were scheduled to clash at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, with the group still open.
What you should know
Jobe Bellingham scored his debut goal for Borussia Dortmund in a pulsating 4-3 win over Mamelodi Sundowns at the Club World Cup. The younger brother of Jude Bellingham showcased his potential on his first start, while Sundowns pushed the German side to the limit in a thrilling encounter.
