Inter Milan Surge Late to Seal 2–0 Victory Over River Plate, Win Group

In a tense showdown at Seattle’s Lumen Field on 26 June 2025, Inter Milan delivered a gripping performance, netting two late goals to clinch a 2–0 win over Argentina’s River Plate. The result secured Inter top spot in Group E and eliminated River Plate from the FIFA Club World Cup..Inter Milan Surge Late to Seal 2–0 Victory Over River Plate, Win Group

🔥 Game-Changing Moments

• Red Card Shifts Momentum
  River Plate’s defense was shaken early in the second half when Lucas Martínez Quarta was sent off for a last-man foul on Henrikh Mkhitaryan in minute 66. His teammate Gonzalo Montiel also received a second yellow shortly before full-time, leaving River further diminished

Debutant Delivers
At just 19, Francesco Esposito lived up to the hype. Set up by Petar Sucic, he twisted away from two defenders before slotting home the opener in the 72nd minute — only his second appearance for Inter, having shone on loan in Serie B

Insurance Strike by Bastoni
With time ticking away and tension high, defender Alessandro Bastoni ventured forward during stoppage time to bury a close-range finish in the 90+3rd minute, sealing victory for Inter and confirming their passage to the knockout rounds

Tactical Overview

• Possession & Initiative
  Inter controlled around 56% of possession and consistently tested River’s alert defense in the second half. Lautaro Martínez came agonizingly close — once striking the post and then seeing a shot saved — but it was Esposito’s opportunism that flipped the match.
• River Plate’s Effort
  Despite being outplayed for much of the match, River had a brief scare for Inter’s Yann Sommer, with Franco Mastantuono firing the first shot on target in the first half. However, with numerical disadvantage, their resistance waned as the game wore on

📈 Tournament Impact

• Inter Milan – they top Group E with 7 points from three games and advance to face Fluminense in the round of 16.
• River Plate – finish third with 4 points, exiting at the group stage — a disappointment for the Argentine giants.
• Monterrey – edged out River Plate on goal difference to secure second place and also advance

🧭 Looking Ahead

Inter Milan now head to Charlotte to take on Brazilian side Fluminense in the knockout phase, buoyed by confidence and a strong defensive display. Meanwhile, River Plate’s early exit raises questions over their tournament ambitions and squad depth.