📍 Lumen Field, Seattle | 🗓 June 25, 2025
🏆 FIFA Club World Cup 2025 – Group E
🧊 First Half: Tactical Stalemate
The first half saw Inter Milan and River Plate locked in a cautious chess match. Both sides showed solid defensive shape, with River Plate relying on possession and Inter probing through width via Dumfries and Dimarco.
Key Moments:
- ⚽ 12’: Franco Mastantuono tested Yann Sommer with a low strike, but the Swiss keeper was alert.
- 🟨 27’: Gonzalo Montiel picked up a yellow for a rough tackle.
- ⚠️ 38’: River built up nicely through Mastantuono, but no finish came.
- ⚖️ Half-time Score: Inter 0-0 River
🔥 Second Half: Drama Unfolds
🔴 67’ – Red Card Turns the Tide
- Lucas Martínez Quarta was shown a straight red card for violent conduct — a turning point that tilted momentum toward Inter.
⚽ 75’ – Inter Take the Lead
- A flowing move saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan lay it off for young forward Francesco Pio Esposito, who curled in a superb finish to make it 1-0.
⚽ 90+3’ – Bastoni’s Stunner
- Defender Alessandro Bastoni surged forward in stoppage time, weaving past defenders and firing a low rocket into the bottom corner to cap off the game with style.
- 🔒 Final Score: Inter Milan 2-0 River Plate
🔍 Tactical Notes
- Inter Milan (3-5-2): Balanced wing-back play, sturdy center-back trio, and midfield fluidity led by Asllani and Barella.
- River Plate (4-2-3-1): Compact but cautious — they lost their structure after going down to 10 men.
🌍 Group E Standings (Final):
| Position | Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inter Milan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 7 |
| 2 | Monterrey | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 6 |
| 3 | River Plate | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Urawa Reds | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | -8 | 0 |
🗓️ Next Fixtures:
- Inter Milan → Into Round of 16, awaiting Group F runner-up.
- Monterrey → Will face Borussia Dortmund in Atlanta on July 1.
- River Plate & Urawa Reds → Eliminated.
🧠 Final Verdict
A professional, measured performance from Inter Milan, with standout moments from Francesco Pio Esposito and Alessandro Bastoni. River Plate’s red card proved fatal, while Inter’s game control in the final third was key.
“We kept calm, stuck to our plan, and finished strong. That’s knockout football,” said Inter boss Simone Inzaghi.
