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Inter ousted as Flu spring a shock
FC Internazionale Milano 0-2 Fluminense FC
Goals: Cano (3), Hercules (90+3)
Fluminense FC stunned UEFA Champions League finalists FC Internazionale Milano with a 2-0 victory to advance to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ quarter-finals at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Flu will now face the winner of the last-16 match between Manchester City and Al Hilal on 4 July in Orlando.
The Brazilians impressed from the off and their early pressure paid off when they turned an Inter giveaway into a third-minute lead.
Rene started the quick counter-attack by getting the ball out wide to Jhon Arias, whose cross was deflected by Alessandro Bastoni. The ball sailed over two Inter defenders in the penalty area and landed in front of Cano, who headed the ball between goalkeeper Jan Sommer’s legs and into the net.
Fluminense had a chance to make it 2-0 in the 30th minute. Jhon Arias’ curling strike forced Sommer into a diving save, and the rebound fell to Samuel Xavier, who missed the open net by pulling his shot wide of the far post.
Inter owned 66 per cent possession in the first half but produced the same number of shots as Fluminense (5) before stepping up their efforts in the second period.
In the 69th minute. Lautaro Martinez headed down a cross in the box to Stefan de Vrij, but the center-back nudged his right-footed shot wide of the post. Six minutes later, Dimarco whipped a free-kick just wide of the right post.
The Italian side continued to turn up the pressure. In the 82nd minute, Esposito’s close-range volley forced the Fluminense goalkeeper into his most difficult save. Martinez then had space again in the box but crashed his shot off the inside of the post.
But as pressure mounted, Inter were caught by a classic sucker-punch in the third minute of added time, when Hercules's left-footed shot at the top of the box beat Sommer to seal Flu's last-eight spot.
Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match
Jhon Arias (Fluminense FC)
Quotes
"We didn't give up. We tried until the end. We tried to make some changes with the formation. It was a day that wasn't for us. That's it. We tried to do our best, like always. Today wasn't a day for us... We didn't expect them to play five in the back. They were well organised with the low block on defence. It was hard for us to find a solution, especially in the first half."
Cristian Chivu, Inter head coach
"I gave everything on the pitch, in every training session, and I’m really sorry. I don’t want to lose, and I feel bad for the team. But I want to say one thing: you have to want to stay at Inter. We’re fighting for important goals, and whoever wants to stay here needs to show it. Whoever doesn’t, should leave. We’re here to do everything we can for Inter, and I’ve seen a lot of things that, as captain, I didn’t like. I want to fight for our objectives because we’re part of a great club, and I want to keep competing at the top."
Lautaro Martinez, Inter striker
"The Europeans sign the best players in the world, but with attitude and dedication to the team, we managed to defend."
Renato Gaucho, Fluminense head coach
"I'm very proud of my team, with my teammates. This game is like this, [it's] too hard to play against the Inter team, you know? They played the Champions League final [a month] ago... [But] Fluminense is a big team."
Thiago Silva, Fluminense center-back
Stats
- The third-minute goal by Fluminense's German Cano is the second fastest at the tournament after Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden's second-minute goal against Wydad AC.
- Cano, at 37 years and 179 days, is the oldest scorer in the knockout rounds and the fourth oldest overall behind CF Monterrey center-back Sergio Ramos (39 years, 79 days), Inter Miami CF forward Luis Suarez (38 years, 150 days), Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (37 years, 360 days).
