Fluminense Shocks Inter Milan with 2-0 Victory: Complete Highlights and Key Moments from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.Fluminense Secure Quarterfinal Spot in Club World Cup 2025 with Impressive 2-0 Win Over Inter Milan
Fluminense secured their spot in the Club World Cup quarterfinals with a convincing 2-0 win against Inter Milan. The Brazilian team set the tone early as Germán Cano found the net within minutes, and Hercules wrapped up the match with a stoppage-time goal, shutting down Inter’s chances of a late recovery.
The game kicked off in the intense heat of Charlotte, North Carolina, and it didn’t take long for Fluminense to make their mark. Just three minutes in, Cano made the most of a deflected cross, rising high to head the ball between Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s legs and giving his team the perfect start.
Fluminense came close to doubling their lead in the 30th minute.Jhon Arias’ shot was parried by Sommer, and the rebound landed at the feet of Samuel Xavier—whose effort went just wide of the far post.
Just a few minutes later, in the 39th minute, Ignacio believed he had extended Fluminense’s lead, but the goal was disallowed following a close offside decision flagged by the review system the automated review system.
Although Inter dominated possession in the first half, Fluminense looked far more dangerous going forward. That trend continued into the second half. Sommer had to step up again in the 62nd minute, diving sharply to his left to deny Arias a second time.
Inter’s best chances came through Lautaro Martínez, who tested Fluminense’s 44-year-old goalkeeper Fábio twice in quick succession during the 80th and 82nd minutes. Then, moments later, he struck the post with a low shot—coming painfully close to equalizing.
But Inter’s backline cracked again in the final moments. Hercules found space near the edge of the penalty area after a quick throw-in and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner, sending the Brazilian fans into a frenzy.
After the match, Fluminense captain Thiago Silva shared how proud he was of the squad for pulling off such a performance, especially under tough conditions.
“I’m truly proud of both my teammates and myself,” Silva shared during his interview with DAZN.. “I had an injury just ten days ago, and getting back on the pitch today wasn’t easy. But our medical team did a fantastic job. I knew how important this match was, and I had to be out there.”
This result means two Brazilian teams—Fluminense and Palmeiras—will feature in the last eight of the Club World Cup’s new expanded format.
Fluminense’s next challenge will be against the winner of the upcoming match between Manchester City and Al Hilal. If City advances, it’ll set up a rematch of the 2023 final, where the English side dominated with a 4-0 victory.
For Inter Milan, this loss comes just a month after their heavy 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. They also ended the Serie A season as runners-up.
Despite the setback, Inter coach Cristian Chivu praised his players’ determination to keep fighting after conceding so early.
“We kept pushing right until the end,” Chivu said in his post-match interview with DAZN. “We made some changes in tactics and formation. It just wasn’t our day.”
“They caught us off guard by lining up with five defenders at the back. Their low defensive block was tough to break through, especially in the first half. We tried to stretch the play more in the second half with crosses and wide attacks.”
“We also adjusted to a 4-4-2 formation with two forwards to try and generate more opportunities.. We gave it everything, but it just wasn’t meant to be today.”