Fluminense stunned Inter Milan with a commanding 2-0 victory on Monday in Charlotte, sending the Italian giants out of the FIFA Club World Cup and propelling the Brazilian side into the quarter-finals.
An early header from Germán Cano and a late strike by Hércules sealed the win for the 2023 Copa Libertadores champions, who held their nerve against a second-half barrage from the Nerazzurri in sweltering North Carolina heat.
Skippered by the evergreen Thiago Silva, 40, Fluminense became the second Brazilian team to reach the last eight, joining Palmeiras in flying the flag for South America. They now head to Orlando for a Friday showdown against either Manchester City or Al-Hilal.
The result adds to a string of South American triumphs over European opposition at this year’s tournament in the United States, following Botafogo’s win over PSG and Flamengo’s upset of Chelsea.
Inter Milan, still reeling from a 5-0 mauling by PSG in May’s UEFA Champions League final, arrived with new manager Cristian Chivu at the helm but failed to settle. In front of just over 20,000 fans at Bank of America Stadium, they fell behind within three minutes as Jhon Arias’ cross took a deflection, allowing Cano to nod home past Yann Sommer.
Fluminense thought they had doubled their lead before the break through Ignacio, but the goal was chalked off for offside. Arias then forced a brilliant save from Sommer with a curling effort early in the second half, keeping the tension alive.
Inter turned up the heat, with Lautaro Martínez and Stefan de Vrij both going close. Martínez came within inches of equalising as a shot on the turn from the edge of the box rattled the post. But Fluminense’s defence held firm, with veteran keeper Fábio proving dependable once again.
In stoppage time, Hércules capitalised on a loose ball, driving into the box and firing low into the far corner, sealing a famous victory. Federico Dimarco later struck the woodwork as Inter’s luck ran out completely.
It’s a landmark result for Fluminense, and a further reminder that Brazil’s clubs remain a force to be reckoned with on the global stage.
