Jobe Bellingham off the mark for Dortmund as they edge out Sundowns

Jobe Bellingham scored on his first start for Borussia Dortmund as they came back to beat Mamelodi Sundowns 4-3 in Cincinnati and move to the top of Group F at the Club World Cup.

Lucas Ribeiro scored a brilliant 11th-minute opener for the South African side, cancelled out five minutes later by Felix Nmecha who capitalised on an error from Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

Serhou Guirassy nodded Dortmund ahead in the 34th minute before Bellingham opened his BVB account on the stroke of half-time, and Khuliso Mudau’s own goal allowed the Bundesliga side to extend their advantage after the break.

Sundowns dialled up the drama as Iqraam Rayners and substitute Lebo Mothiba both found the back of the net in the second half, but they could not add an equaliser in six minutes of stoppage time.

Ribeiro got Sundowns off to a dream start after latching onto a pass from former Dortmund midfielder Tashreeq Matthews inside his own half before launching a left-footed effort into the bottom right.

Williams’ sloppy pass straight to Nmecha then gifted an equaliser to Dortmund, who took a first-time lead after Sundowns gave the ball away under pressure in midfield in the build-up to a bullet header from Guirassy.

Ex-Sunderland man Bellingham then padded Dortmund’s advantage after Williams, perhaps regrettably, elected to come out to meet Julian Brandt’s cross-shot.

It rebounded to Bellingham, who brought the ball down with his chest before finding the back of the net with a lightly-deflected volley.

Bellingham was involved again in Dortmund’s fourth with a pass to Daniel Svensson, whose effort went in off the unfortunate Mudau just before the hour.

Sundowns had not lacked chances, and Rayners finally made one count when he tracked his own rebound from a header off the post, nodding it home as he travelled across the face of goal.

Mothiba’s strike on the stroke of normal time ensured Dortmund had to battle their way to all three points.