Fluminense produced a sensational performance to stun Inter Milan 2–0 in the Club World Cup round of 16 on Monday night, booking their place in the quarter-finals.

Inter struggled to cope with Fluminense’s relentless intensity in the early stages, and their Brazilian opponents were rewarded almost immediately. Inside the opening three minutes, German Cano headed home to give Fluminense the lead. Although Inter Milan gradually grew into the first half, Fluminense nearly doubled their advantage just before the interval, only to be denied by a marginal offside call against Ignacio.

The Nerazzurri appeared more composed in the second half as they pushed for an equaliser. Lautaro Martínez had two clear chances in the final 10 minutes – one expertly saved by goalkeeper Fábio, and the other rattling the post. Despite Inter’s late pressure, Fluminense held firm, defending with resilience and discipline.

Their efforts were rewarded in the dying moments of the match when Hércules sealed the result with a superb strike across goal into the bottom right corner, sparking wild celebrations among Fluminense players and supporters alike.

Sports Mole’s Verdict
Fluminense’s intent was clear from the outset: apply pressure, disrupt rhythm, and capitalise early. Inter Milan were immediately unsettled, frequently committing passing errors and losing possession in dangerous areas. One such mistake led to Cano’s opener, after Fluminense won the ball deep in Inter’s half.

Although Inter regained a degree of control as the match progressed, particularly through wide overloads and deliveries into the box, the Fluminense defence – led by the ever-reliable Thiago Silva – stood firm.

Inter pushed further forward in the final stages, but fatigue set in, and Fluminense continued to press with unrelenting energy. Their persistence paid off with a late second goal to seal the win.

This result compounds Inter Milan’s recent disappointments, following their second-place finishes in both Serie A and the UEFA Champions League during the 2024–25 season.

Match Timeline Highlights
Fluminense take an early lead through Cano

A poor clearance by Inter allowed Martinelli to recover possession on the right flank. He found Jhon Arias, whose deflected cross looped awkwardly over the defence. Alessandro Bastoni's failed block left Matteo Darmian out of position, allowing Cano to head the ball down and through Yann Sommer’s legs for the opening goal.

Hércules confirms Fluminense’s victory

In the closing minutes, Hércules collected the ball near the edge of the Inter Milan box and unleashed a powerful left-footed strike across goal, nestling into the bottom corner – a brilliant finish to all but confirm Fluminense’s place in the next round.

Player of the Match – Jhon Arias (Fluminense)
Jhon Arias delivered a masterclass in both attacking creativity and physical resilience. The Colombian was credited with the assist for Cano’s opener, albeit via a heavy deflection, and created the most chances in the match (four).

More impressively, Arias’s hold-up play was instrumental in relieving pressure and enabling teammates to exploit space. He completed three successful dribbles – more than any other player – and consistently posed a threat against what is considered one of Europe’s most formidable backlines.

Match Statistics: Inter Milan vs Fluminense
• Possession: Inter Milan 68% – 32% Fluminense

• Shots: Inter Milan 16 – 11 Fluminense

• Shots on Target: Inter Milan 4 – 4 Fluminense

• Corners: Inter Milan 5 – 2 Fluminense

• Fouls: Inter Milan 15 – 16 Fluminense

What’s Next?
Fluminense’s victory sees them progress to the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup, where they will face the winner of the clash between Manchester City and Al Hilal.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan will have a short break before beginning their preparations for the 2025–26 Serie A season, with a series of pre-season fixtures on the horizon.