Inter Milan Surges Past River Plate to Reach Club World Cup Last 16
Jun, 27 2025
Inter Milan Dominates Group E Decider with River Plate
Things heated up in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup when Inter Milan took on River Plate for a do-or-die Group E match in Miami. The Italian outfit showed their Champions League pedigree, beating the Argentine side 2-0 and booking a ticket straight to the knockout rounds. It wasn’t just another group-stage game. Stadium tension was clear, with both teams knowing exactly what was on the line: a shot at global glory and a chance to silence critics from their hometowns.
The first key moment arrived in the 28th minute. Federico Dimarco, Inter's marauding full-back, darted into the box, sneaking past River’s shaky defense and calmly slotting home the opener. That goal set the tone—not just for the match, but for Group E’s outcome. River Plate, already trailing, looked rattled and tried to push forward, but Inter sat tight, organized, and ready to pounce on any mistakes.
Lautaro Martínez, who can’t seem to stop scoring on the biggest stage, struck again just after halftime. The Inter captain finished off a slick counter-attack for his third goal in as many Club World Cup outings. Martínez is quickly becoming Inter’s talisman in this tournament, and after this performance, you’d struggle to find a defender willing to face him. With River Plate forced to chase the game, control soon slipped out of their hands.
Tempers Flare and River Plate’s Hopes Fade
As desperation set in, River Plate’s frustrations spilled over. Gonzalo Montiel, usually the ice-cool right-back, saw red in the 67th minute for a sloppy challenge—his second bookable offense. That left River not only chasing two goals but a man down, turning their climb into a mountain. Inter, sensing an opportunity, controlled possession and picked off attacks with precision. Their keeper, André Onana, pulled off a pair of clutch stops—his quick reflexes kept Julian Alvarez and Pablo Solari at bay and preserved the clean sheet.
The final whistle didn’t bring immediate relief. Instead, simmering tensions boiled into a post-match scuffle involving several River players and Inter’s Romelu Lukaku. Details on what sparked the chaos are still coming in, but security and staff had to step in to separate the teams before things got completely out of hand.
For River Plate, the loss stings. The Argentine powerhouse came into the tournament with high expectations but crashed out after just one win and a total of four points, finishing two shy of Inter, who topped the group with seven. Monterrey, who drew with both rivals earlier in the group phase, edged past River into second on five points and also advanced. River’s exit marks another rough chapter for a club that’s desperate to add international hardware—but this year wasn’t their time.
Next up for Inter Milan is a tough Round of 16 clash against Brazil’s Fluminense on June 30. After showing their class in a group stage packed with drama, Simone Inzaghi’s side will go into the knockouts with momentum and belief. Plenty of eyes will be on Lautaro Martínez to see if his scoring streak continues—and whether Inter can carry this fearless form all the way to the Club World Cup final.