Inter 0-2 Fluminense: Brazil’s remarkable story continues | OneFootball

Fluminense beat Inter 2-0 in Monday’s Club World Cup fixture in the round of 16 as two Brazilian teams progress to the quarter-finals.

It was a battle of the unbeaten in the Club World Cup, as neither side had lost a match in the competition so far before Monday’s contest.

Goals from Germán Cano and Hércules ensured Fluminense’s passage to the quarter-final, where they will play either Manchester City or Al Hilal on 4 July

As it happened

Brazil’s remarkable story in the Club World Cup continued in Monday’s fixture after an early Fluminense goal stunned Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer in the opening five minutes.

A deflected cross off Alessandro Bastoni looped towards Germán Cano, who was left neglected in the centre of the penalty area, and a headed effort from the Argentinian striker put the Brazilian side 1-0 ahead.

Inter could have equalised five minutes later, when the arrival of Federico Dimarco forced Fábio into a save, retaining Fluminense’s advantage.

Renato Gaúcho’s side almost doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark, when Jhon Arias’ strike from outside the penalty area was parried away by Sommer, and the follow-up by Samuel Xavier trickled past the far post.

Bastoni earned himself a yellow card for his challenge on Xavier and would have missed the quarter-finals, against either Manchester City or Al Hilal, if they had progressed.

A VAR check broke Brazilian hearts as Ignácio’s 39th-minute goal was ruled offside after a headed pass from Renê. The deficit remained 1-0 at the half-time whistle.

Cristian Chivu was forced to make a triple substitution to his side not even ten minutes into the second half, with Luis Henrique, Valentín Carboni and Petar Sučić replacing Denzel Dumfries, Mkhitaryan and Kristjan Asllani.

Marcus Thuram made his first start for Inter since their 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League Final. It was also his first of the Club World Cup, following a second-half appearance in a 1-1 draw against CF Monterrey, but his inclusion was ineffective.

A flying Sommer save prevented Arias’ effort from outside the box sneaking inside the post, with the Colombian forward determined to score from distance.

Stefan de Vrij squandered a close-range opportunity in the 69th minute after Lautaro Martínez headed a guided cross onto the foot of the Dutch defender, but the shot sailed past the post. The Italian side could find a solution to their Brazilian opponents’ advantage.

Dimarco’s free kick from outside the penalty area, with a quarter of an hour to go, was the closest they had come to an equaliser, but the effort glanced past the post.

Inter continued to knock on the door, as they had found their spark in the final ten minutes of the game. Martínez missed two opportunities to level the scoreline, one saved by Fábio, the other hitting the post.

Despite Inter’s pressure, a stoppage-time goal from Hércules ensured there was no hope for an Italian comeback as Fluminense progressed to the quarter-finals.

The lineups

INT: Sommer; Darmian, de Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martínez