Inter Milan Secures Round of 16 Spot with Solid Win Over River Plate

Inter Milan clinched the top position in Group E of the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) with a solid 2-0 triumph over River Plate in Seattle, leaving the Argentine side facing elimination and marking just their second clean sheet in six outings.

The game’s early stages were far from exciting, characterised by a flurry of tackles but a lack of clear scoring opportunities.

A low shot from Franco Mastantuono, saved by Yann Sommer, briefly ignited the River Plate fans, but Inter quickly settled into their rhythm, creating a couple of notable chances.

The first chance came when Gonzalo Martínez blocked a fierce shot from Francesco Pio Esposito right in front of goal. Lautaro Martínez followed up with a promising attempt that flew wide of the target. Undeterred, Esposito made another effort to spearhead the Nerazzurri’s attack, but his near-post volley from a left-wing cross was bravely blocked by Paulo Díaz, who hit the ground hard.

After the interval, the Italians continued to push forward, creating four significant opportunities within just a few minutes.

Martínez broke through, but a well-timed challenge from Marcos Acuna forced him to hit the post. Almost instantly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan found himself through on goal, only to be thwarted by a pair of River defenders, with Federico Dimarco’s follow-up effort going wide.

A quick reaction save by Franco Armani denied Martínez moments later.

However, a double substitution from the River Plate bench just after the hour mark sparked a brief resurgence, as they could have taken the lead when Facundo Colidio connected with a left-wing cross, only to direct a weak header straight into Sommer’s grasp.

Things became more difficult for River almost immediately after, as Mkhitaryan broke forward and was chopped down by Lucas Martínez Quarta while through on goal.

A straight red card was the only response, leaving River Plate in a precarious position.

With 20 minutes remaining, the inevitable occurred as Esposito scored his first goal for Inter after a turnover in possession saw Mkhitaryan break free past the River defence. The Armenian played the ball across to Esposito, who slotted it low into the far corner, leaving Armani with no chance.

From then on, the match became a mere formality, and Inter sealed their victory with a second goal in stoppage time. A dazzling solo run from Alessandro Bastoni ended with him deftly sliding the ball under Armani, dispelling any lingering doubts.

There was still time for a scuffle that saw Gonzalo Montiel receive a second yellow card and head for an early shower, but with Inter finishing at the top, they now face Fluminense in a very winnable Round of 16 encounter.

In contrast, River Plate has yet to score against a European side in the CWC and will surely view their elimination from this group as a missed opportunity.

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