Inter Milan progressed to the Round of 16 at the Club World Cup after defeating River Plate in a heated encounter at Lumen Field in Seattle. The Argentine side, who needed a win to advance, were reduced to nine players and eliminated from the competition.
Lucas Martinez Quarta was first to be dismissed after bringing down Henrikh Mkhitaryan to prevent a clear scoring opportunity midway through the second half. Shortly afterward, young striker Francesco Esposito broke the deadlock with a powerful finish – his maiden goal for the club.
Tensions boiled over in the closing stages. Marcos Acuna’s challenge on Denzel Dumfries led to a confrontation between the players. Gonzalo Montiel received a second yellow card during the altercation and was sent off. Acuna later had to be restrained as he pursued Dumfries, who was leaving the field. The situation escalated when spectators threw objects as Dumfries exited through the tunnel.
In the dying minutes, defender Alessandro Bastoni sealed the result with a left-footed strike, ensuring Inter topped the group.
Chivu reflects on difficult first half
Inter coach Cristian Chivu acknowledged the early pressure from River Plate, crediting their intensity and aggressive play. “It was a very hard game for us in the opening 45 minutes,” he said. “They played with a lot of energy and it was difficult to match.”
However, Chivu noted that things changed after the break. With River down to ten and later nine players, Inter found more space and control. “Once they went a man down, we found our rhythm and finished the job,” he added.
Inter to face Fluminense as Monterrey advance
Inter will now face Brazilian side Fluminense in the Round of 16, with the tie scheduled for Monday at 20:00 BST.
Elsewhere in Group E, Monterrey secured their place in the knockout rounds with a dominant 4-0 win over Urawa Red Diamonds. The Mexican team finished second behind Inter and will meet Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, 2 July, at 02:00 BST. River Plate exits the tournament with four points from three games.
