CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In what could be described as an unexpected triumph, Germán Cano’s early header, just three minutes into the match, set the tone as Fluminense surprised Champions League runner-up Inter Milan with a 2-0 victory at Bank of America Stadium. This win propels the Brazilian team into the Club World Cup quarterfinals, in a match witnessed by a modest turnout of 20,030 fans.
With this victory, Fluminense moves on to face the winner of the Manchester City-Al Hilal matchup, set to occur on Friday in Orlando, Florida.
The atmosphere was sizzling at 90 degrees Fahrenheit when Jhon Arias managed to send a slightly deflected cross from the right corner. Cano capitalized on this opportunity with a precise header, threading the ball right between Inter Milan’s goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s legs to establish an early 1-0 lead. This goal proved crucial throughout the match.
Although Fluminense seemed to extend their lead later in the first half, Ignacio’s header was annulled as it was adjudged offside.
On the opposite end, Inter Milan was persistent in their attempts to equalize. Dominating possession with 68% and outshooting Fluminense 16-11, the Italian side had several near-misses but failed to convert any into goals.
Opportunities for Milan frequently ended in frustration, with missed chances and lack of presence to capitalize on rebounds. Stoppage time saw Fluminense’s Hercules securing the decisive 2-0 scoreline with a well-placed shot.
The final moments of the game were a jubilant display for Fluminense, their players bouncing in joy, extending the celebration onto the field in united camaraderie.
Post-match, a visibly upset Inter Milan captain, Lautaro Martínez, expressed that those not committed to the cause should consider leaving the team.
Tensions flared during the game, particularly when a Fluminense bench player seized a ball on the sideline, thwarting an Inter Milan opportunity. A yellow card followed, amid a clash of shoves between players.
A crucial part of the match involved a missed opportunity by Martínez in the second half, where his close-range shot clanged off the upright, leaving him staring in disbelief.
Fluminense’s defensive strategy involved a tactical shift to utilizing three defensive backs, a move praised by their coach Renato Gaúcho. “I thought a lot about what scheme we would use. We should have three backs so we could mirror their own group,” he explained post-game.
Their disciplined play secured their position as only the second Brazilian club team, alongside Palmeiras, to progress to the quarterfinals.
At the massive 74,867 capacity stadium, attendance was sparse, prompting stadium officials to allow fans from the upper deck to fill lower sections, though substantial portions remained vacant.
Fluminense coach Renato Gaúcho remarked, “We are representing Brazil football beautifully… The fans are happy and feeling strong because we are here playing the big European teams.” Meanwhile, Inter Milan’s coach Cristian Chivu emphasized the necessity of self-reflection within the team. “We need to look one another in the eye and accept the fact that we need to be self-critical and never point the finger at one another,” he stated.