Fluminense Stuns Inter Milan 2-0 to Advance to Club World Cup Quarter-Finals

Brazilian club Fluminense displayed a masterclass of strategy and determination by defeating the Champions League finalists FC Inter Milan 0-2 in the Round of 16 at the FIFA Club World Cup at Bank of America Stadium, earning a spot in the quarter-finals. The game, played in hot North Carolina conditions, featured Fluminense overcoming the Italian giants with a first half goal and a closing shot.

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Playing at home Fluminense did not spare the time, as they scored one minute later with veteran Argentine forward Germn Cano. Jhon Arias crossed in goal and Alessandro Bastoni of Inter deflected it off to Cano who headed the ball through the legs of the goalkeeper Yann Sommer. This early objective created an auspicious atmosphere, as the aggressive pressing game and general defense of Fluminense, led by the 40-year-old captain Thiago Silva, kept Inter off of their track.

Fluminense had the better chances though it was Inter Milan who dominated the possession. The Colombian forward Jhon Arias put the defense of Inter under pressure all through the game to the extent that he almost doubled the rise in the 30th minute when Sommer parried away his shot and the follow-up effort by Samuel Xavier went by just a fraction. Inter fought back in the second half but Lautaro Martinez was twice denied by the 44-year-old goalkeeper F in a game where his heroics earned Fluminense its third clean sheet in the competition.

Substitute Hrcules completed the match in break time, after a defensive slip in finding the net in style with a low drive. Fluminense became the second Brazilian club in history, after Palmeiras, to advance to the quarter-finals as the 20 030 crowd exploded with satisfaction.

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The new coach of Inter, Cristian Chivu, was criticized after this match, and the arguments of the captain, Martinez, who called out the colleagues, were made publicly suggesting the presence of dissension. With the confidence of winning the 2023 finale of the Copa Libertadores, Fluminense now awaits their next challengers to be Manchester City or Al Hilal, and the potential match again is in the final.