Inter Milan emerged victorious over River Plate with a decisive 2-0 win, securing their place in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 knockout stage.
In a high-tempo Group E clash held in Seattle, the Italians struck twice in the final 18 minutes after River was reduced to ten men.
The turning point came when River defender Lucas Martinez Quarta was sent off for a last-man foul on Henrikh Mkhitaryan. With numerical superiority, Inter capitalised as Sebastiano Esposito broke the deadlock shortly after the red card. Alessandro Bastoni added the finishing touch in stoppage time, sealing Inter’s dominance.
The loss was a double blow for the Argentine side, also eliminated from the tournament as Monterrey overtook them for the second spot in the group. Inter, now group winners, are set to face Brazilian giants Fluminense in the round of 16 in Charlotte next Monday.
A fiery end saw Gonzalo Montiel also dismissed, wrapping up a forgettable evening for River Plate in what was a heated affair with high stakes.
