Fluminense shocks Inter Milan with late winner

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Fluminense sent Inter Milan packing from the Club World Cup on Monday with a 2-0 win in Charlotte that took the Brazilian side through to the quarterfinals.

German Cano's header from close range gave Fluminense an early lead in its last-16 tie, and it withstood an onslaught from the Italians in the second half before substitute Hercules sealed victory for the Rio de Janeiro outfit late on.

The defeat prompted Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez to criticize his teammates publicly.

"Whoever wants to stay, stay; whoever does not want to stay should go," Martinez told DAZN after the match. "I have seen a lot of things that I didn't like. I want to win.

"We need players who want to be here. We're wearing an important shirt. We need a top-level mentality, or please leave."

The Argentine forward's comments came after an 11-month season, where the club ended up as runner-up in both the Champions League and Serie A.

Inter Milan appointed former defender Cristian Chivu as head coach following its 5-0 Champions League final defeat just before the Club World Cup.

The new coach supported Martinez's harsh assessment of the team.

The Brazilian side's victory continues South American clubs' strong showing in the tournament, with Fluminense becoming the second Brazilian team to reach the quarterfinal stage.

Fluminense's Everaldo celebrated the victory as validation of South American soccer's quality.

"We are teaching people around the world that South American soccer is good, too," Everaldo said.

Fluminense, which qualified for the Club World Cup thanks to its Copa Libertadores triumph in 2023, is the second Brazilian side to make the last eight, after Palmeiras sealed its quarterfinal spot on Saturday.

Captained by 40-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea centerback Thiago Silva, 'Flu' will now travel to Orlando for a tie on Friday against Al Hilal.

"We knew they were not going to be easy opponents. Less than a month ago they were playing the Champions League final, but we played really well," Silva told broadcaster DAZN.

It is the latest victory for a Brazilian team against prestigious European opposition at the tournament in the United States, after Botafogo defeated PSG and Flamengo got the better of Chelsea in the group stage.

"This is a very important victory for our fans, for all of Brazil, for my country, for South America," said Jhon Arias, the lively Colombian winger who was named man of the match.

"We are not only representing Fluminense, but a whole continent, and we are really pleased with what we are doing in this World Cup."

'Not our day'

Inter did not fully convince during the group stage, despite topping its division, and it found itself trailing inside three minutes before a small crowd of just over 20,000 fans at Bank of America Stadium on another searing afternoon.

A cross from the Fluminense right by Arias took a deflection off Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni. The ball then bounced awkwardly, before veteran Argentine striker Cano arrived to head in through the legs of goalkeeper Yann Sommer from close range.

Ignacio thought he had made it 2-0 before the interval, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.

Sommer then tipped a fine curling strike by Arias around the post just after the hour mark, before Inter began to turn up the pressure in an attempt to avoid exiting the competition.

Stefan de Vrij prodded wide from close range after captain Martinez had headed down a cross, and the latter then saw a fine shot on the turn from the edge of the box come back off an upright.

Martinez had also been denied by Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio moments earlier.

Confirmation that it would not be Inter's day arrived in stoppage time.

On as a substitute, Hercules pounced on a falling ball and drove into the box, before firing low into the corner.

Federico Dimarco then hit the woodwork at the other end, as Fluminense held out for the victory, and, in doing so, keeps South American hopes of glory at the tournament firmly alive.

"We never gave in. We kept going until the end, but it was not our day," Chivu told DAZN.

Agencies