Fluminense Defeats Inter Milan 2-0 In Historic Club World Cup Victory

Fluminense has defeated Italian giant Inter Milan by a scoreline of 2-0 in the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup round of 16.

Fluminense Strikes Early

Germán Cano, the hero of Fluminense’s historic Copa Libertadores win in 2023, opened the scoring just three minutes into this round of 16 tie. The Argentine forward couldn’t believe his luck when Jhon Arias’ deflected cross dropped to him in the six-yard box.

The 37 year-old prodded home, but then received a yellow card for accidentally barging into the referee in the 15th minute. ‘Flu’ meanwhile, retreated to the edge of the box and Inter started to control the ball and press forward. It looked like a long game ahead for the Brazilians.

Fluminense held its own in the first half though, and then some. A game of Rio de Janeiro head-tennis resulted in a second goal five minutes before the break, but heartbreakingly Ignácio’s finish was ruled out for offside. It would have been a wonderful team goal, straight from the Copacabana, to put Flu firmly in the driving seat, but the Brazilians would have taken 1-0 at half time before the game. After 7 minutes of stoppage time that’s how the first half ended.

Fine Margins For Inter Milan

Early in the second period you could tell that both sets of players were feeling the harsh summer sun in Charlotte. A stadium with no roof, 90 degrees of heat and over 50% humidity meant extremely difficult conditions and so early substitutions were made by both managers. The temperature however is definitely one Fluminense will be slightly more used to playing in.

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The game itself started to heat up too, both sides came close, tackles flew in and there was even a touchline scuffle. Both clubs were giving everything to try and progress to the last eight of the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup.

With 10 minutes remaining Lautaro Martínez came extremely close to equalising for Inter. First denied by the keeper and then hitting the post, all in the space of a minute. The Argentinian striker saw the ball roll across the goal-line in teasing fashion instead of veer into the net. It simply was not to be his day.

History Made By Fluminense

In the 93rd minute of the game Fluminense finished the Italian job and created another day of Brazilian magic in this tournament. Substitute Hércules sent Flu fans behind the goal wild as he finished a chance with his left foot, sent across the face of the goal and past the keeper. A historic victory for Fluminense and a second Brazilian side in the quarter finals alongside Palmeiras. This was a huge victory for Brazilian soccer as much as Fluminense themselves.

The Italian giant had been brought to its knees. Inter had time to hit the woodwork again after the second Flu goal but the ball simply would not go in. It was a devastating day for the Italians, but seemed like destiny for the men from Rio de Janeiro. It was an enthralling game and though on another day the result could have been very different, this win will go down in history as one of Fluminense’s biggest ever.

It’s a fantastic day for Flu fans, who watched their fierce rivals Flamengo come up short against European opposition yesterday. The green and red striped side from Rio however, move on, to an epic quarter final fixture against the winner of Manchester City vs Al Hilal.