Fluminense's historic win sets up potential Man City showdown

Brazilian giants Fluminense pulled off a stunning 2-0 upset against Inter Milan to advance to the Club World Cup quarter-finals, setting up a potential clash with Manchester City.

Match Highlights

German Cano opened the scoring with a brilliant diving header in just the 3rd minute, while substitute Hercules sealed the victory with a spectacular curling shot from the edge of the box during a tense final 25 minutes.

Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez came agonizingly close to equalizing multiple times, including a late effort that rattled the post. Federico Dimarco also threatened with two dangerous free-kicks and a close-range attempt.

The match, played before a modest crowd of 20,030 at Charlotte's 74,867-capacity Bank of America Stadium, saw Fluminense join compatriots Palmeiras in the last eight.

Key Takeaways

South American Passion: The jubilant celebrations at full-time highlighted how much this tournament means to South American clubs. Fluminense's victory proves Brazilian sides can compete with European powerhouses, especially in conditions favoring their style.

Environmental Factors: The challenging heat and pitch conditions have troubled European teams, while overwhelming South American support in US host cities has created a formidable home advantage.

Player Performances

Fluminense Standouts: Veteran defender Thiago Silva, 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio, and forward Jhon Arias delivered exceptional performances to secure the historic win.

Inter Milan Struggles: While Martinez improved after tactical changes, strike partner Marcus Thuram failed to make an impact throughout the match.

What's Next?

Fluminense await the winner of Manchester City vs Al-Hilal for Friday's quarter-final in Orlando's Camping World Stadium. Meanwhile, Inter Milan will regroup before their Serie A opener against Torino in August.