CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BN24) — Brazilian side Fluminense delivered a stunning upset over Inter Milan with a 2-0 victory on Monday night, booking a place in the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup and setting up a potential showdown with Manchester City.
The breakthrough came early, as striker Germán Cano’s diving header in just the third minute gave the South American champions an immediate edge. Despite sustained pressure from Inter, Fluminense weathered the storm and struck again late in the game. Substitute Hercules curled a brilliant effort from the edge of the area to seal the win in the closing 25 minutes, against the run of play.
Inter Milan, who came into the match as heavy favorites, created numerous chances to equalize. Star forward Lautaro Martinez rattled the post and narrowly missed with a series of close efforts. Federico Dimarco also came close, bending two free-kicks just off target and firing a tight-angled shot that flew inches wide. The Italians’ best opportunity may have fallen to Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij, whose shot from Martinez’s knockdown failed to find the back of the net.
The match drew only 20,030 fans to Charlotte’s 74,867-capacity Bank of America Stadium, marking the final match to be played there during the tournament.
With the win, Fluminense join domestic rivals Palmeiras in the Club World Cup quarterfinals. They will face the winner of Manchester City vs. Al-Hilal in a highly anticipated quarterfinal clash Friday at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
The Club World Cup has long carried greater emotional weight for South American clubs, and that dynamic was once again evident. Fluminense’s players and fans erupted at the final whistle, reflecting the tournament’s heightened significance in Brazil. With searing heat, difficult pitch conditions, and raucous Latin American fan support throughout the U.S. host cities, the environment heavily favored the Brazilian side.
For Inter Milan, Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez came alive in the final 30 minutes after tactical changes freed him from early constraints, but he ultimately couldn’t break through. His partner Marcus Thuram, however, delivered an anonymous performance and failed to influence the match.
On the opposite end, Fluminense’s veterans shone. Forty-four-year-old goalkeeper Fábio was commanding, legendary defender Thiago Silva anchored the backline with poise, and winger Jhon Arias posed a constant threat.
Fluminense advance to face either European champions Manchester City or Saudi powerhouse Al-Hilal on Friday in the quarterfinals — a massive opportunity to further cement Brazil’s dominance in this year’s tournament.
Inter Milan, meanwhile, will return to Italy and prepare for the start of the Serie A season, which kicks off in August with a visit to Torino.
BBC.COM
