Fluminense shock Inter to reach the Club World Cup quarters | OneFootball

Charlotte met the Warrior Team. Internazionale can talk about the heat, the end of the season, the lack of luck. But June 30th was marked by Fluminense, with Ignácio, a giant, Fábio, always decisive. From the top scorer Cano, the Monster Thiago Silva, the unsurpassable Arias. The tricolor fans went 'head over heels' in the stands with the victory that took Tricolor to the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup. Cano scored early, Hércules at the end, and Flu moves forward to face Manchester City or Al Hilal.

The Tricolor from Laranjeiras had a performance that bordered on perfection, with happy choices by Renato Gaúcho and an impressive dedication from 11 Warriors on the field, who wrote a beautiful chapter in tricolor history. A day of tricolor celebration, from Charlotte to Laranjeiras.

Cano and the Dream Start

Fluminense experienced the dream start. After Martinelli recovered the ball in the attacking field, Arias appeared on the right and crossed into the area. The ball presented itself to Germán Cano, who headed it in from close range to give Tricolor the advantage.

The goal did not change the expected scenario for the game: Inter pushed forward, but now needing more goals. The first good approach came from a long ball that found Mkhitaryan in the area. The Armenian protected and set up Di Marco, who struck hard. Fábio deflected it.

Pulled back, Flu had space for the counterattack, always relying on Arias for moments of relief. Both to hold the ball longer and to reach the final third dangerously. Very nearly, the second goal came. Arias set himself up to shoot from distance, Sommer fumbled, and Samuel Xavier got the rebound but shot wide. A great chance wasted.

The Cariocas also lacked a bit of luck. Samuel Xavier crossed from the right, Thiago Silva headed to Renê, who left it for Ignácio to just push it in. But the defender was half a body ahead of the line of the ball, and the goal was disallowed. A sin also for the spectacular game he was playing up to that point, and would continue to play, Ignácio.

It was a more than positive first half for Renato Gaúcho's team. A true Team of Warriors, who shut the door on a powerful rival, but also played well, and could have gone into halftime with a bigger lead.

Blessing, João de Deus

Fluminense continued to defend well, with a line of 5, against an Inter that showed more and more signs of fatigue. So much so that Chivu did not wait more than seven minutes to make the first changes.

Besides defending well, Tricolor managed to pass time with the ball at their feet. Calmly, with Arias pacing and timing, Bernal distributing, and Nonato appearing all over the field.

Flu also created chances to score the second. Always with Arias as the protagonist: after a dummy from Cano, the Colombian struck beautifully from outside the area. The ball curved and went into the corner. Sommer stretched fully to make a great save.

Unable to get through with open play, Inter took advantage of a loose ball from a set piece to come very close to equalizing. Lautaro received a cross at the far post, sent it to the middle, and De Vrij had everything to score from close range, but acted like a defender and sent it wide.

The Nerazzurri came close again in a free kick from Di Marco: the ball passed over the wall and was very close to the post. The tricolors pulled back and began to suffer more from the Italian crosses. From another one of them, Lautaro aimed for the corner with his left foot, but there was Fábio to hold onto the ball. The duel repeated shortly after, in a stronger finish by the Argentine. Fábio shone.

In the final minutes, the Cariocas organized in a 5-4-1, and Renato increased the team's height with Thiago Santos. The drama intensified, but Flu held on. Even when Lautaro did everything right, the post saved. The fans were already praying to João de Deus.

The definitive blessing came in stoppage time, when the winds of Charlotte blew in favor of the Tricolor Warriors. After a throw-in and a deflection by the defense, the ball changed trajectory and landed at the feet of Hércules, who advanced freely, entered the area, and struck with his left foot to secure the victory, and the qualification. Fluminense wins, the Warriors advance.