New Delhi: Fluminense pulled off a stunning 2-0 win over Champions League finalists Inter Milan to book their spot in the Club World Cup quarter-finals in Charlotte. The Brazilian side struck early and held off constant pressure from the Italians to secure one of their most memorable victories on the international stage.
German Cano opened the scoring just three minutes into the match, heading home from close range after Jhon Arias delivered a deflected cross from the right wing. The early goal sent Fluminense fans in the stands into a frenzy and it proved to be enough as the team defended with grit and organisation throughout the match.
Inter Milan controlled much of the game, dominating possession with 68% and firing 16 shots to Fluminense’s 11 but they simply couldn’t find a way to convert their chances. Lautaro Martinez had the best opportunity to equalise in the second half but his close-range shot rattled off the post, leaving the Argentine forward in disbelief.
Not just that, the Italians came close on several occasions with Federico Dimarco testing the Fluminense defence with free-kicks and Stefan de Vrij nearly scoring after a clever knockdown from Martinez. Despite the pressure, Fluminense’s backline including veteran Thiago Silva held firm while 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio made key stops to preserve the lead.
Fluminense thought they had doubled their advantage late in the first half when Ignacio found the net with a header but the goal was ruled out for offside. Inter kept pressing as the match entered its final minutes but failed to score, adding to growing frustration, especially after a heated moment on the sideline saw Fluminense receive a yellow card when a player on the bench appeared to prevent a quick throw-in.
As Inter pushed forward in the closing moments, Fluminense found the decisive blow in stoppage time. Hercules, who came as a substitute, curled a shot from the edge of the box and seal the victory. They formed a huddle on the pitch after the final whistle bouncing together in joy as their victory was confirmed.
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With the win, Fluminense now move on to face the winner of Manchester City and Al-Hilal in the quarter-finals on Saturday in Orlando. It sets up another significant test for the Brazilian club, who join Palmeiras in the next round and continue to showcase the determination of South American teams on the global stage.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan will turn their focus to preparations for the upcoming Serie A season, which begins with an away fixture against Torino in August as they look to regroup after their early exit from the tournament.
