Inter Milan secured a 2-0 victory over River Plate, advancing to the last 16 of the Club World Cup. The win came despite a bad-tempered match that saw three red cards and a confrontation between players.
Inter Milan progressed to the round of 16 after securing a hard-fought 2-0 win over River Plate. The match, played at Lumen Field in Seattle, was marred by controversy and tension between the two teams.
River Plate’s Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel were sent off in the aftermath of a melee between players, sparked by a tackle on Inter’s Denzel Dumfries. Earlier, Lucas Martinez Quarta had also been dismissed, leaving River Plate with nine players on the field.
The numerical disadvantage ultimately told on River Plate, as Inter capitalized on their opportunities.
Francesco Esposito scored his first goal for the club shortly after Martinez Quarta’s red card, lashing in a shot to give Inter the lead. The win was sealed in added time when Alessandro Bastoni added a second with a left-foot shot.
The victory marks a significant achievement for Inter’s Romanian boss Cristian Chivu, who expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance.
“We have the job done,” he said. “We qualify for the further stage of this competition. We are pleased with that.” Inter will now face Brazilian club Fluminense in the last 16 on Monday.
Monterrey secured a 4-0 win over Urawa Red Diamonds to progress to the knockout stage, finishing second in Group E.
The Mexican side will face Borussia Dortmund in the knockout stage on July 2. With these matchups set, the stage is now set for an exciting round of 16 in the Club World Cup.
