Fluminense shock Inter 2-0 to reach Club World Cup quarter-finals
CHARLOTTE :Fluminense reached the Club World Cup quarter-finals with a stunning 2–0 win over Inter Milan as German Cano's early goal and Hercules' stoppage-time strike toppled the Champions League runners-up in sweltering heat on Monday.
Fluminense struck after three minutes when Cano pounced on a deflected cross and headed in from close range, putting the ball through goalkeeper Yann Sommer's legs for a dream start.
The Italians pushed for an equaliser after the break but were frustrated by a well-organised defence. Stefan de Vrij missed a close-range chance, keeper Fabio denied Sebastiano Esposito with his feet and Lautaro Martinez struck the post.
Substitute Hercules sealed the win for Fluminense three minutes into added time, calmly slotting home from the edge of the box to send the Brazilians through to a last-eight clash with either Manchester City or Al Hilal on Friday in Orlando.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Guardiola left to rue missed opportunities as Manchester City exit Club World Cup
ORLANDO, Florida - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was left to rue his side's inability to capitalize on a host of first-half chances as the Premier League side suffered a shock elimination from the Club World Cup against Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal on Monday. Marcos Leonardo scored twice, including the 112th minute winner, as the Riyadh-based outfit won 4-3 in extra-time in Orlando with the first-half performance of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou proving pivotal in Al-Hilal's win. "The level in this competition is a World Cup," said Guardiola, who led City to the Club World Cup title in 2023. "The only regret I have is that we allowed them to run a little bit more than expected. "Against a team that defended so deep, the wingers have been brilliant. The chances that we had in many, many departments. Bounou made a lot of saves and, in the end, you have to score, you have to be clinical." City had taken a ninth minute lead through Bernardo Silva but a string of saves from Bounou in what remained of the opening 45 minutes kept the Saudis in contention. Leonardo and Malcom scored inside the first six minutes of the second half to turn the tables on Guardiola's side before Erling Haaland levelled in the 55th minute, taking the game into extra-time. Kalidou Koulibaly's header put Al-Hilal back in front, only for Phil Foden to equalise again for City, and Leonardo eventually killed off the Premier League side eight minutes from the end of extra-time. The win takes Al-Hilal through to a quarter-final meeting with Brazil's Fluminense while City return to England. "We would have loved to continue, it's not easy to be here once every four years," said Guardiola. "The team still has that feeling, that the team is doing well. But we go home and now it's time to rest, to refresh our minds and come back for next season." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Man City, Inter Milan crash out of Club World Cup in last 16
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after the loss to Al Hilal at the Club World Cup. PHOTO: REUTERS Man City, Inter Milan crash out of Club World Cup in last 16 ORLANDO – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has urged his team to learn from their mistakes, as they crashed out of the Club World Cup with a surprise 4-3 defeat in extra time by Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in the last 16 on June 30. The loss came hours after Inter Milan were also eliminated by Fluminense on a day of shock results. 'Unfortunately we can't continue in the competition so we have to learn and keep moving forward,' Guardiola told reporters. 'Al Hilal don't just run, they have a lot of quality, we created a lot with wingers but they are a complete team... I have a big, big opinion of Al Hilal but I (also) think we had a good game to be honest.' Champions League runners-up Inter were dumped out 2-0 by Brazilian side Fluminense in Charlotte and Guardiola's City joined them after Marcos Leonardo's brace left the Premier League giants on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller. Al Hilal, who recorded one of the greatest results in Middle Eastern football history, will face Fluminense in Orlando in the quarter-finals on July 4. City were the only side to win all three group matches, including a thrashing of Juventus, but came undone in Florida against an Al Hilal side filled with players who once starred for European teams. Guardiola's team were matched blow-for-blow by Al Hilal at the Camping World Stadium. 'We knew that it was a difficult game against one of the best teams in the world – we wanted to show our ideas, our talents, our power,' Al Hilal's Kalidou Koulibaly told DAZN. Bernardo Silva turned home from close range to put City ahead after nine minutes on a muggy night on the east coast, but Leonardo levelled early in the second half. Former Barcelona winger Malcom fired the Saudi side ahead after Joao Cancelo threaded him through on goal. Erling Haaland levelled for City and had an effort cleared off the line late on before the game went to extra time. Koulibaly nodded home from a corner after 94 minutes but Phil Foden finished well to level 10 minutes later. The match was decided by Leonardo reacting well to prod home when Ederson saved Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's header after 112 minutes, with City unable to battle back a third time. 'It is a pity. We have been on incredible journey together and were in a good place,' added Guardiola. 'I cannot thank the players enough for training and playing how they have been. We would have loved to have continued... But we go home and now it is time to rest and rest our minds for the new season.' In the other match, German Cano headed home early on to give Fluminense the lead against Inter and the Brazilian side survived an onslaught from the Serie A team to progress. Substitute Hercules netted late on to seal their win, while a frustrated Inter hit the woodwork twice through Lautaro Martinez and Federico Dimarco. The Rio de Janeiro outfit become the second Brazilian side to make the last eight after Palmeiras had already sealed their quarter-final spot. '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,' said 40-year-old 'Flu' captain Thiago Silva, once of Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. 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. Inter did not fully convince during the group stage despite topping their section and a furious Martinez criticised some of his teammates after the game. 'I want to fight for the major trophies, (so) anyone who wants to stay at Inter, fine, let's fight, but anyone who doesn't want to stay can leave,' said Inter's captain. 'We need players who want to be here.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Guardiola left to rue missed opportunities as Manchester City exit Club World Cup
ORLANDO, Florida :Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was left to rue his side's inability to capitalize on a host of first-half chances as the Premier League side suffered a shock elimination from the Club World Cup against Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal on Monday. Marcos Leonardo scored twice, including the 112th minute winner, as the Riyadh-based outfit won 4-3 in extra-time in Orlando with the first-half performance of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou proving pivotal in Al-Hilal's win. "The level in this competition is a World Cup," said Guardiola, who led City to the Club World Cup title in 2023. "The only regret I have is that we allowed them to run a little bit more than expected. "Against a team that defended so deep, the wingers have been brilliant. The chances that we had in many, many departments. Bounou made a lot of saves and, in the end, you have to score, you have to be clinical." City had taken a ninth minute lead through Bernardo Silva but a string of saves from Bounou in what remained of the opening 45 minutes kept the Saudis in contention. Leonardo and Malcom scored inside the first six minutes of the second half to turn the tables on Guardiola's side before Erling Haaland levelled in the 55th minute, taking the game into extra-time. Kalidou Koulibaly's header put Al-Hilal back in front, only for Phil Foden to equalise again for City, and Leonardo eventually killed off the Premier League side eight minutes from the end of extra-time. The win takes Al-Hilal through to a quarter-final meeting with Brazil's Fluminense while City return to England. "We would have loved to continue, it's not easy to be here once every four years," said Guardiola. "The team still has that feeling, that the team is doing well. But we go home and now it's time to rest, to refresh our minds and come back for next season."
