Inter Milan’s hopes alive in the Club World Cup!
Rome, June 21 (EFE).-
Lautaro Martínez kept Inter Milan’s hopes alive in the Club World Cup with a spectacular overhead kick followed by a last-minute goal from his compatriot Valentín Carboni that sealed the Nerazzurri’s 2 comeback against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds on Saturday.
Inter will now face River Plate on Matchday 3 with a victory, an important one on a mental level, as it was the first since their painful defeat in the Champions League final.
Inter were once again too predictable, too slow, too dull, with an incompetent defense against the Japanese’s initial attack.
Ryoma Watanabe’s 11th minute strike put the Japanese side ahead until Lautaro’s overhead kick revived the Nerazzurri with just 12 minutes left in the match.
The Italian team gave everything in the final minutes and, with the ball loose in the box, Carboni scored with the inside of his right foot to put Inter in a great position to reach the round of 16.
Monterrey and River Plate played to a goalless draw on Saturday in a match dominated by the Argentines, with goalkeeper Esteban Andrada proving a wall for Rayados’ defense.
The draw leaves everything open to decide qualification on the final matchday of Group E.
River Plate and Inter Milan lead the group with four points, while Monterrey has two and Urawa Red Diamonds are eliminated with no points.
The final matchday, to be played on Wednesday, will pit River Plate against Inter Milan and Monterrey against Urawa.
Fluminense defeated Ulsan Hyundai 4-2 on Saturday to take first place in Group F of the Club World Cup in a match in which they had trailed at one point.
A stunning goal from Colombian Jhon Arias was offset by two goals from the South Korean team, who went into the break with a lead.
But Nonato, Freytes, and Keno turned the tide in the match in New Jersey, leaving the Rio de Janeiro side tied with Borussia Dortmund on four points and ending the South Koreans’ hopes.
Renato Gaúcho’s men will face South African Mamelodi Sundowns (3 points) on Wednesday to determine which teams advance to the round of 16. EFE
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