![Thiago Silva and Juan Freytes celebrate after Hercules scores Fluminense's second football goal [Agustin Marcarian/Reuters]](https://jambobet.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/DDDD.webp "DDDD")
Brazilian giants Fluminense pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after defeating UEFA Champions League finalists Inter Milan 2-0 in the round of 16 at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Led by veteran defender and captain Thiago Silva, the Rio-based side produced a commanding and fearless performance against one of Europe’s top teams. Despite not registering a single shot on target in their final group match, Fluminense made a statement early, pressing high and capitalizing on Inter’s defensive error to break the deadlock inside just three minutes.
The opening goal came when Jhon Arias intercepted possession in Inter’s half and delivered a cross from the right. The ball took a deflection and fell perfectly for striker German Cano, who nodded it past Yann Sommer to give the South Americans a dream start.
Inter Milan, coached by Cristian Chivu, tried to respond swiftly. Federico Dimarco went close in the 11th minute with a low shot from a Henrikh Mkhitaryan cutback, but Brazilian keeper Fabio reacted brilliantly to keep the lead intact.
Despite dominating territory for much of the first half, Inter struggled to find space behind the compact Fluminense defense. As Inter pushed forward, Fluminense began to grow into the game. Arias remained a constant threat and nearly added a second after the half-hour mark with a curling effort from distance. Sommer parried the ball, and Samuel Xavier missed a golden opportunity from the rebound, dragging his shot wide.
Inter had another scare before halftime when Fluminense found the back of the net through Ignacio after a series of headed passes. However, the goal was rightly ruled out for offside.
Fluminense went into the break 1-0 up and looked determined to continue their remarkable defensive streak, having not conceded a second-half goal in their last seven outings.
Inter Milan Fluminense #FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/Azua1Uek7Q
— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) July 1, 2025
The Italians pushed harder after the interval, but their only effort in the first 15 minutes of the second period came from a speculative long-range shot by Stefan de Vrij that flew wide. Arias, meanwhile, kept probing with his signature long-range strikes, and Sommer once again had to be alert to tip one around the post.
Inter’s best opportunity came as the match entered its final quarter. Lautaro Martínez rose at the far post to head the ball back across goal for De Vrij, who failed to connect cleanly just yards from the goal line. Martínez, desperate to lift his side, saw two more shots saved by Fabio and hit the post with another.
As Inter threw men forward in search of an equalizer, they left gaps at the back — a mistake that Fluminense punished ruthlessly. With 10 minutes to play, substitute Hercules found space on the counter and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner past the advancing Sommer to make it 2-0 and seal the win.
The goal sent the Brazilian fans into a frenzy and underlined Fluminense’s growing reputation as giant-killers in the tournament. Their defensive structure, combined with their pace in transition, proved too much for Inter to handle.
Renato Gaúcho’s side extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches and secured a third consecutive clean sheet in the competition — a stat that speaks volumes about their resilience and tactical discipline.
For Inter, it was a disappointing end to their campaign. Despite their pedigree and strong squad, they struggled to impose themselves in the final third and failed to score in both of their competitive meetings with Brazilian sides.
Now, the focus for Chivu and his squad shifts back to Europe, where they’ll be hoping to bounce back ahead of the new season. But for Fluminense, the dream continues. Into the quarter-finals and full of momentum, the Tricolor have proven they are more than ready to challenge the world’s best.
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