Monterrey Overwhelms Urawa in Commanding Shutout Victory to Progress to Knockout Rounds

Monterrey advanced to the knockout phase of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) after a convincing 4-0 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds in their final Group E encounter, extending their unbeaten run against Asian teams to six matches (W4, D2).

With high expectations to shine against a side already resigned to their fate, Monterrey nearly found the back of the net within the first four minutes, as Alfonso Alvarado’s header rattled the crossbar.

Urawa responded well to the early setback, with Esteban Andrada tipping a dangerously whipped corner from Matheus Savio onto the post. Close-range attempts from Takahiro Sekine and Ryoma Watanabe were also thwarted.

However, Monterrey began to assert their dominance, with Alvarado narrowly missing the target as he shot wide while Shuusaku Nishikawa was off his line.

Half an hour into the match, the Mexicans opened the floodgates, as Nelson Deossa found the net from distance, with Nishikawa unable to react in time, allowing the ball to nestle in the centre of the goal.

Shortly after, Monterrey doubled their lead through German Berterame, whose clever shot threaded through the legs of a defender and into the bottom corner.

They saved their finest goal for last in the first half, as Jesus Corona broke away and launched a breathtaking shot from long range, giving Monterrey a commanding three-goal cushion before the break.

Both keepers were called into action early in the second half, with Nishikawa doing well to deny Ricardo Chávez after he cut inside, while Andrada tipped Danilo Boza’s header over from a corner.

Roberto de la Rosa could have netted a fourth for Monterrey in the closing stages but saw his one-on-one chance saved by Nishikawa after a quick counter-attack.

In a final twist during stoppage time, Thiago Santana managed to score for Urawa, but his effort was ruled offside, before Berterame added his second to cap off the night.

Ultimately, Monterrey cruised through to the knockout rounds, as Urawa faced their fifth successive CWC defeat, departing the tournament in disappointing fashion.

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