Fluminense upset Inter Milan 2-0 to reach Club World Cup quarters

Fluminense stunned Inter Milan with a 2-0 victory on Monday in Charlotte, booking their place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals. The Brazilian side, fresh off their 2023 Copa Libertadores triumph, struck early through German Cano, whose close-range header in the third minute set the tone.

Despite heavy second-half pressure from the Italian giants, Fluminense held firm before substitute Hercules sealed the win in stoppage time with a composed low finish.

Led by 40-year-old captain Thiago Silva, the Rio de Janeiro club joined Palmeiras as the second Brazilian team in the last eight. Their next challenge will be a quarter-final clash in Orlando against either Manchester City or Al-Hilal on Friday.



The win continued a strong tournament showing for Brazilian teams, following earlier group-stage victories by Botafogo over PSG and Flamengo against Chelsea.

"We are representing Brazil football beautifully. ... The fans are happy and feeling strong because we are here playing the big European teams,” Fluminense coach Renato Gaucho said after the victory.

Inter, meanwhile, arrived in the US on shaky footing, still reeling from a 5-0 loss to PSG in the Champions League final and adjusting to new coach Cristian Chivu. Despite topping their group, their form remained unconvincing.


Fluminense nearly doubled their lead before halftime through Ignacio, but his goal was ruled offside. Inter pushed hard after the break, with Lautaro Martinez hitting the post and Stefan de Vrij squandering a close-range chance.

Federico Dimarco also struck the woodwork in stoppage time, but it was too late.

With resilience, clinical finishing, and tactical discipline, Fluminense eliminated one of Europe’s top sides, keeping South American hopes alive in the tournament.

"We need to look one another in the eye and accept the fact that we need to be self-critical and never point the finger at one another,” Inter coach Cristian Chivu on their disappointing show.