Borussia Dortmund topped Group F and secured their spot in the FIFA Club World Cup knockout phase by a slim 1-0 win against Ulsan Hyundai at TQL Stadium, Cincinnati. 

The win dashed the hopes of Ulsan to advance and was the fourth successive defeat for them overall, a streak they had last faced in 2018.
Dominance in the Cincinnati Sun Dortmund, managed by Niko Kovač, knew they required a draw to progress, and they dictated the pace of the game amidst the sweltering heat. Ulsan goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo also performed incredibly well and denied them with several important saves, some of which featured an excellent one-handed save against Serhou Guirassy and a good left-leg save from Pascal Groß's attempt.

Dortmund's teenage starlet Jobe Bellingham went close to scoring on multiple occasions. He scorched over the bar and had another shot blocked.

The Decisive Moment

The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Bellingham slipped a pass through to Daniel Svensson. He collected the ball with ease and scored comfortably past Jo. That goal turned out to be the winner because Dortmund could not make their advantage count despite several chances. Jo denied them time and time again, including saving a late shot from Yan Couto.

Ulsan's Fight and Dortmund's Resilience

Ulsan, behind and already eliminated, were more adventurous in the second half, with Kang Sang-woo and Lee Jin-hyun forcing Dortmund's Gregor Kobel to work. But they were not able to do enough to breach the defense of Dortmund. Dortmund's poor finishing continued to plague them, with several chances, including a header from Ramy Bensebaini, going begging.

Looking Ahead

Dortmund topped Group F with seven points, two better than Fluminense, who also qualified after a goalless draw against Mamelodi Sundowns. Dortmund will face the runner-up from Group E in the round of 16 in Atlanta next Tuesday. The match should be intriguing as they attempt to carry their group stage unbeaten run.

Great Performances Ulsan's star was Jo Hyeon-woo, who pulled off 10 excellent saves that kept the scoreline tight and earned him man-of-the-match. For Dortmund, Daniel Svensson's clinical goal and Jobe Bellingham's intelligent play were instrumental in their win. 

Summary While they found it difficult to finish off the game, Borussia Dortmund were calm and resolute in the face of pressure. 

This allowed them to proceed to the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup, where they will try to strengthen their attack and fight for international triumphs.