Ulsan: Ulsan HD FC have bowed out of knockout contention at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States following their second straight loss. Ulsan HD, three-time defending K League 1 champions, lost to Fluminense FC of Brazil 4-2 in their second Group F match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Ulsan HD, the only South Korean team in the tournament, opened the proceedings with a 1-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns FC of South Africa on Tuesday. With Borussia Dortmund of Germany having defeated Sundowns 4-3 earlier, Ulsan had to at least hold Fluminense to stay alive in the tournament. Instead, they blew a 2-1 lead in the second half.

Ulsan HD will close out the tournament against Borussia Dortmund at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, at 3 p.m. Wednesday. This is the first edition of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, with 32 teams divided into eight groups of four. The top two teams from each group will reach the knockouts.

Fluminense dominated the early minutes ag
ainst Ulsan, with Ganso testing Ulsan goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo with shots when the match was only two minutes old. The Brazilian side grabbed the lead in the 27th minute with Jhon Arias converting a free kick. Milosz Trojak had committed a foul after an Ulsan turnover, and Jo had no answer for a strike by the Colombian attacker.

Jo did his best to keep the match close, denying Gabriel Fuentes and Guga in succession around the half-hour mark. Then, in the 37th minute, Ulsan equalized through Lee Jin-hyun after a cross from Um. During added time, Lee found Um for a diving header, giving Ulsan a 2-1 lead at halftime.

After the restart, Fluminense pushed hard and drew even in the 66th minute through Nonato. Fluminense then went ahead in the 83rd minute when Juan Freytes scored after a crucial save by Jo. Keno added Fluminense’s fourth goal during stoppage time.