Played at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, Fluminense wasted no time in taking control. Veteran striker Germán Cano gave the South American champions a dream start, heading home a deflected cross in just the 3rd minute to shock the Nerazzurri.
Despite enjoying the bulk of possession and territory, Inter Milan failed to break through a well-organized Fluminense defense. The Serie A runners-up created several chances through Lautaro Martínez and Stefan de Vrij, but were denied by 44-year-old goalkeeper Fábio, who produced a string of brilliant saves to keep his side ahead.
Fluminense sealed the win deep into added time when substitute Hércules calmly slotted in a second goal, capitalizing on a defensive error to end Inter’s hopes of a comeback.
After the match, Fluminense head coach Renato Gaúcho praised his team’s discipline and belief. “I told them it was possible, and they believed,” he said. “It’s 11 against 11, and we showed our quality today.”
Inter captain Lautaro Martínez, on the other hand, did not hold back in his post-match comments, criticizing the team’s mentality. “If you don’t want to be here, leave,” he said, clearly frustrated with the performance.
With this result, Fluminense progress to the quarterfinals where they will face the winner between Manchester City and Al Hilal. The upset also marks a significant achievement for Brazilian football, with Palmeiras also advancing earlier in the competition.
Fluminense's victory over Inter Milan is already being hailed as one of the standout moments of the expanded 32-team Club World Cup, showcasing tactical discipline, experience, and clinical finishing on the global stage.
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