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Inter Milan advanced to the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup after a commanding 2-0 victory over River Plate at Lumen Field on June 25, securing the top spot in Group E.
The match remained goalless until the 72nd minute, when Francesco Pio Esposito broke the deadlock.
His goal came shortly after River Plate’s Lucas Martínez Quarta was sent off for denying Henrikh Mkhitaryan a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Esposito latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Petar Sucic, and after taking a smart touch, he rifled a powerful finish past River goalkeeper Franco Armani.
Inter doubled their lead deep into stoppage time when Alessandro Bastoni made a decisive run past the River Plate defence and slotted home a low left-footed shot.
The match ended in controversy, with River Plate’s Gonzalo Montiel receiving a second yellow card following a flurry of scuffles.
Objects were thrown from the crowd as the players made their way off the field in the aftermath.
Despite River Plate’s spirited efforts, which included promising moments from 17-year-old Franco Mastantuono, their attacks lacked the necessary precision.
Facundo Colidio squandered a key opportunity in the 64th minute, heading directly at Inter’s goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Inter, though, dominated possession, and River’s resistance weakened after Martínez Quarta’s dismissal.
Monterrey’s dominant 4-0 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds secured their spot in the knockout stage, where they will now face Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals.
With the win, both Monterrey and Inter Milan advance to the knockout round from Group E. Inter will face Brazilian side Fluminense in the round of 16 on June 30 in Charlotte.
