Inter Milan suffered a shock elimination from the Club World Cup in the last 16 after a 2-0 defeat to Brazilian side Fluminense. The match, held at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, saw Fluminense take the lead within three minutes and seal victory deep into stoppage time, ending Inter’s campaign earlier than expected.
The Italian side, who recently appointed Cristian Chivu as head coach following Simone Inzaghi’s departure, endured another setback after their recent 5-0 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain. Chivu’s reign got off to a rocky start as Inter struggled to impose themselves against an energetic and well-organized Fluminense team.
Germán Cano gave the Rio de Janeiro club the perfect start, reacting quickest to a deflected cross and directing a downward header between the legs of goalkeeper Yann Sommer. The early goal unsettled Inter, who failed to recover rhythm or confidence in the first half.
Fluminense almost extended their lead on several occasions. Samuel Xavier fired narrowly wide after Sommer spilled an initial shot, while an Ignacio effort was chalked off for offside by VAR. In contrast, Inter dominated possession but looked blunt in attack, creating few clear chances in the opening hour.
In the second half, the game shifted slightly as Inter pushed forward with greater urgency. Lautaro Martínez led the charge, forcing veteran Fluminense goalkeeper Fábio into two fine saves in quick succession around the 80th minute. Moments later, the Argentine striker hit the post with a low drive, coming agonizingly close to an equaliser.
However, as Inter pressed for a late goal, they were caught out at the back. In the third minute of added time, Hércules received the ball from a throw-in near the edge of the box and finished clinically into the bottom corner to make it 2-0. The goal sparked wild celebrations from Fluminense players and fans alike.
Despite fielding experienced stars like Thiago Silva, who was impressive at the back, and 44-year-old Fábio in goal, Fluminense looked the more disciplined and determined side. Their defensive resilience paid off, as they recorded their third consecutive clean sheet of the tournament and booked a quarter-final tie against Al Hilal, who stunned Manchester City in the other last-16 clash.
The result leaves Inter reeling and in urgent need of introspection. After the match, captain Lautaro Martínez delivered a passionate statement, expressing frustration and questioning the commitment of some teammates. He called on players to either show the desire to fight for the club or step aside.
With the early exit, Inter miss a chance at silverware and now turn their attention back to domestic and European competitions, hoping to regroup and rediscover their form under new management.
