Fluminense of Brazil extended their remarkable journey in the Club World Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 win against Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal on Friday in Orlando, Florida, securing their spot in the semifinals.

The underdogs from the tournament scored first in the opening half through Matheus Martinelli, but Al Hilal responded after the break when Marcus Leonardo leveled the score.

Fluminense fought back resiliently and regained the lead in the 70th minute courtesy of Hercules, clinching a historic victory in the inaugural matchup between the two teams.

"If you had asked me earlier whether we'd reach the semifinals, I wouldn't say I doubted it because I believe in our efforts, but it felt so distant," reflected captain Thiago Silva.

The Brazilian team, considered one of the major long shots entering the tournament, will next face the winner of Friday's other quarter-final between Palmeiras and Chelsea.

Fluminense took the lead when João Cancelo's clearance attempt failed, allowing Gabriel Fuentes to set up Martinelli for a precise left-footed shot into the top right corner.

"Many doubted our potential and our team's capabilities, but we've proven our strength with every match," said Martinelli, who will sit out the semifinal after receiving a yellow card shortly after his goal.

"Once we take the field, we're a tough opponent to overcome."

Al Hilal mounted a strong comeback in the second half, equalizing when a header from Kalidou Koulibaly deflected off Leonardo, who quickly followed up and scored from close range.

Hercules, who had previously scored as a substitute in the last-16 win against Inter Milan, entered the game for Martinelli and made his mark by skillfully controlling the ball in the box and firing into the bottom corner.

"I must commend my players for their outstanding performance and dedication on the pitch tonight," said Al Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi. "We're disappointed, of course, but we should take pride in our efforts."

The match started with a minute of silence observed by players and fans to honor Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who tragically died in a car accident on Thursday.